So I have to say I had one heck of a night here at the Bon Dance. It was my first one that I've attended since 2000, back when I was in college! Granted, this evening was not one of just fun and dancing, I only danced twice toward the end of the night because I was helping out with the food booth and the lines and taking food orders.
Since obon is a celebration festival to honor our loved ones who have passed and is a time to gather in joy. There is a lantern processional and brief ceremony prior to the start of the dancing. The children get to participate in the lantern parade and some of them wear their obon kimonos and other cute outfits. They all looked great tonight. So all the kids get their lantern with their light and march around the corner from the park to the yagura (musician stand) and then continue to make a circle...Then the fun begins!
I was amazed at the number of people that were already there at 5:30 when we showed up to get the food lines going. Wow. Food orders were non-stop for about 2 hours and I watched the andagi line grow longer and longer! (love the andagi Guy!) Chicken Hekka was a great sell and the Chicken curry ran out pretty quick it seemed...Hot dogs wasn't too far behind.
I ate Kalua pork and cabbage and got a side order of the noodles. The lunch plate was plentiful, 2 scoops rice, mac salad and the main item. I liked the taste of the kahlua pork but there was a surplus of the juices in my tray...and I don't really care for soggy rice. However, the flavor was great! A little too much greens for my taste as well but the cabbage was cooked just right. The fried noodles were very tasty too and portion that was being given for $4 was quite generous.
Of course, I had to try the shave ice...you can totally tell it's not Matsumotos...but, it was made with heart and caring. The ice was made a little in advance, to take care of a long line, but because it was made in advance, the ice had time to sit so it was a little more icy than shaved. The syrup was very tasty and I had a rainbow- strawberry, vanilla, banana- and you could distinctly taste all of the flavors.
I was surprised at all the extra offerings- silent auction, country store, farmer's market, and many different vendors selling things from toys to jewelry to aromatherapy oils. It makes me happy to see how the bon dance has grown in terms of the crowds, the extras, and It looked as though everyone was having a blast!
I heard people say that this is their favorite bon dance to attend and I hope that it continues to grow and people bring their friends and families back year after year.
I'll be there again on Saturday...Where will you be?
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