Van Paugam DJ Set at University of Illinois Japan House Matsuri
Admission to the Matsuri Festival and all performances are FREE, and paid food and activities are budget-friendly. All events and activities will take place outside in the Arboretum rain or shine.
Japan House will celebrate the end of the spring semester and 25 years in the Arboretum at the University of Illinois with a celebratory day of performances, food and artistry followed by fireworks.
Matsuri, the Japanese word for festival, will be held Saturday, May 6 from 12pm to 9pm in the Arboretum just south of Japan House, a new location for the event. The schedule includes a variety of free performances, including Ho Etsu Taiko drum group, DJ Van Paugam, martial arts demonstrations, hula, and more.
During the family-focused portion from 12pm-6pm, there will be something for everyone to do. Younger guests can enjoy the amazing artistry of Joyful Bubbles, try their hand at origami (paper folding),or be mesmerized by “The Candyman”, a Japanese street performer whose specialty is the ancient Japanese art of amezaiku, a method of sculpting hot taffy-like candy into fantastic shapes of animals and other creatures. Over a dozen artists and artisans will be located in a large Retail Tent featuring handmade crafts and goods with demonstrations and performances scattered throughout. A variety of restaurants will be lined up offering delicious Asian-inspired food and beverages for all.