Mark your calendars for the Fall Japanese Festival at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Saturday, Nov. 4 + Sunday, Nov. 5. The festival will mark the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Garden, which opened in 1973.

Don't miss performances of traditional Japanese arts like Taiko drumming. | Photo by Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Festivities

Included with garden admission, the two-day festival will feature:

Taiko Drummers in the Horseshoe Garden
Japanese Swordsmanship with GK Sugai at the Shelter House
Traditional tea ceremonies in Oak Hall
Origami and calligraphy demonstrations
Food trucks serving traditional treats and fare

Jump across the Japanese Garden's tranquil pond using the stepping stones. | Photo by Fort Worth Botanic Garden

History

Fifty years ago, the 7.5-acre Japanese Garden was a gravel pit. Now, bamboo footbridges cross peaceful Koi ponds and pathways that wind through cherry trees, Japanese maples, and magnolias.

Most of the plants in the garden don't have flowers, but in the springtime, it is lush with blooms. This follows the Japanese practice of "Mono no Aware" or "transient and bittersweet beauty" — which acknowledges that something is special when it occurs just for a short time.