Third Annual Arcata Obon Festival brings Creamery District to life with a spectacular celebration of culture

Sunday, Aug. 11, was the Third Annual Arcata Obon Festival in front of the playhouse in the Creamery District. The festival was put on by Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI).

Mimi Kyoko, a member of HAPI, worked an accessory booth at the Obon festival.

“I’m wearing what I would consider my little festival style kimono,” Kyoko said, gesturing to her hot pink and indigo kimono, wrapped around the middle with a pink piece of fabric called an obi.

“We’re selling these kanzashi hair piece ornaments here that were handmade,” Kyoko said with a beautiful and intricate pink hairpiece above her right ear, “and some handmade Obon stone jade pendants.”

Kyoko listed off several aspects of the festival that she likes.

“We’ve got lots of Obon swag. There are local artists here with their handmade goods. There’s lots of food trucks here. We’re gonna have a Japanese traditional dance coming up and Taiko drumming.”