Celebrate the Year of the Dog at the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

In anticipation of the Lunar New Year, the Storrier Stearns Japanese Gardens has planned the last Sunday in January (January 28), for the whole family with music, crafts, art, and treats from Japan, China, and Korea.

The Japanese New Year (Shogatsu) is an annual festival with its own customs. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar on January 1st, New Year’s Day ( Ganjitsu). However, the celebration of the traditional Japanese New Year–the Lunar New Year–still takes place and, in January, Storrier Stearns plans to celebrate them all.

The fun-filled day includes:

10am – 4pm Chinese Lantern-Making: Learn how to make different kinds of traditional Chinese paper lanterns with members of the garden’s Asian Arts Council.

10am – 4pm Japanese Origami-Making: Fold cranes, dogs and other forms to celebrate the New Year with members of the garden’s Asian Arts Council.

12pm – 3pm Korean Minhwa Folk Painting Workshops: Enjoy a rare chance to learn to create traditional paintings and tapestries with trained instructors. (Sponsored by the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, www.kccla.org)

2pm – 2:45pm Japanese Koto Musical Performance: Enjoy uplifting melodies performed by Kozue Matsumoto and the Calarts Japanese Music Ensemble.

Tickets are $7.50/online and $10.00/gate. The event is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Japanese Gardens are located at 270 Arlington Drive, Pasadena. For tickets or more information call (626) 399-1721 or visit www.japanesgardenpasadena.com.

The City of Pasadena prohibits visitors from parking on the surrounding residential streets. Please follow the signs to park on-site. On Open Day Last Sunday, parking is also available in the lot at Westridge School on Madeline Drive. It is accessible from Pasadena Avenue. Look for the driveway on the right at the end of the street.