Light and Legacy: Obon Weekend Returns to Morikami Museum with a Spirit-Led Celebration
This August, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens will once again offer a deeply personal and beautifully orchestrated homage to heritage, memory, and connection. On August 16 and 17, the beloved cultural institution in Delray Beach welcomes guests to its annual Obon Weekend—an immersive tribute to the Japanese Buddhist custom of honoring ancestors as they are believed to briefly return home to the realm of the living.
For those familiar with Obon, the tradition is one of reflection and reunion. At Morikami, this centuries-old custom is interpreted with both solemnity and celebration, blending ceremonial practice with artistic engagement in a setting designed for quiet contemplation and community connection.
A Weekend of Memory and Meaning
Throughout the weekend, guests are invited to write the names of departed loved ones or messages of remembrance on memory slips, which will be displayed near the bon altar of museum founder George Morikami in the Kamiya Room. This gesture—small in action, profound in intention—anchors the festival’s purpose.
Visitors can also experience Fushu Daiko’s live taiko drumming performances, offered in the Morikami Theater at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. on both days, with an additional performance on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members, in addition to general museum admission.
On Saturday afternoon, the lakeside terrace becomes the stage for a Bon Odori dance workshop at 3:30 p.m., where Fushu Daiko invites attendees to learn the graceful, unifying steps of this traditional folk dance. Participants are encouraged to join in the live Bon dance performance at 3:50 p.m., set against the backdrop of taiko drumming and the stillness of Morikami Lake.
The daytime events culminate on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with the floating of a large lantern on the lake—a poignant visual sending off, as handwritten messages on memory slips are symbolically returned to the spirit world in a moment of collective closure.
Guiding Light Lanterns and Kits
Those inspired to bring the Obon spirit into their homes can purchase Guiding Light Lanterns ($5) or Lantern at Home Kits ($8), both available in the museum lobby. Whether used in private reflection or shared with family, these luminous tokens extend the reach of the tradition beyond the weekend.
An Evening to Remember: Launch the Lantern Dinner
For those seeking a more intimate and elevated experience, the Launch the Lantern Dinner Fundraiser on Sunday, August 17, offers an Obon celebration under the stars. From 6:30 to 10 p.m., guests will enjoy a gourmet sit-down dinner with sake tastings, live taiko drumming, and a lantern-decorating activity. The evening concludes with a private floating lantern ceremony on Morikami Lake, blending ritual, sound, and setting in one unforgettable gesture of remembrance.
Proceeds from the dinner benefit Morikami’s 4Es: Exhibitions, Education, Emotional Wellness programs, and Expansion—a mission that reflects the museum’s role as a cultural cornerstone and sanctuary of reflection.
Tickets are $225 per person and can be purchased HERE.
Visiting Details
Obon Weekend runs August 16–17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for children, and free for museum members. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, FL.