Destination Asia Festival

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION: 

Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7, 2016
Arbor Court and Meadow Lake Areas near the Visitor Center
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Live Music & Performances 

Dawn Redwood Stage (Arbor Court)
Saturday and Sunday:
10:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. - Kerry Leung, Chinese music performed by a "one-man band"
10:45 a.m. - Chicago Koto Group, traditional Japanese ensemble music
11:45 a.m. - Seven Star Lion Dance Group, experience a Chinese Lion Dance
1:30 p.m. - Akshay Music Academy, traditional Indian ensemble music
2:00 p.m. - Friends of the Gamelan, gamelan music from Indonesian island of Java
3:30 p.m. - Chicago Gayageum,  Korean stringed instrument performance
Golden Gingko Stage (Meadow Lake)
Saturday and Sunday:
10:00-10:30- Silat Seni Gayong (Saturday only), Malaysian martial arts
10:30-11- Shinkendo Swordsmanship, sword demonstrations
11:00-noon USA Sumo, live sumo wrestling, a 1,500-year-old Japanese sport
noon- 1:00 Tsukasa Taiko Drummers, traditional Japanese taiko drumming
1:00-2:00 Illinois Shaolin Kung Fu, Kung Fu and Tai Chi performance
2:00-3:00 USA Sumo, live sumo wrestling, a 1,500-year-old Japanese sport
3:00-4:00 Tsukasa Taiko Drummers, traditional Japanese taiko drumming 
Peking Lilac Stage (P1 Picnic Area)
Saturday and Sunday:
11:00 a.m. - Bollywood Rhythms (Sunday only), enjoy a bollywood dance performance
12:00 p.m. - Piyesta Pinoy, Filipino music and dance performance
1:00 p.m. - Archarya Performing Arts Academy, Indian dance performance
2:15 p.m. - Global Pungmul Institute, Korean drumming and dance performance
3:00 p.m. - Thai Cultural Arts Institute, traditional dances from Thailand
3:45 p.m. - Indonesian Cultural Troupe (Saturday only), traditional music and dance from Indonesia

Games, Activities, and Educational Offerings

Frost Hill
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Learn to play Cricket, a popular sport in Asia similar to baseball
11:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. Aviana Aerial Yoga, experience yoga elevated into a tree
Meadow Lake Point
10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Vendor Expo, shop Asian goods
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Body & Brain Yoga Center, yoga and tai chi workshops
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Origami Participation, fold paper into beautiful creations
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Elegant Henna Tattoo, try some traditional henna
Meadow Lake Lawn
10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Badminton Open Play, enjoy a popular-in-Asia sport

Botanical Activities

Meadow Lake Point
11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Ikebana Floral Demonstration, the art of Japanese floral arranging
Meadow Lake Lawn
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Adult Education Demonstrations, learn about Asian art techniques, gardening, wellness practices and more from Arboretum experts
West Lawn
2:00 p.m. Bonsai Demonstration, learn more about the care of Bonsai trees
Sycamore Room
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Prairie State Bonsai Society Show, discover the many varieties of trees or plants that can be dwarfed to an artistic shape by special methods of growing, prunning, and training; vote for best in show
Asian Tree Collections
Explore our collections from China, Japan, and Korea and enjoy the beautiful plants native to Asia.

Experience more!

The Art of Bonsai: Attend this beautiful show and discover the many varieties of trees or plants that can be dwarfed to an artistic shape by special methods of growing, pruning, and training. Vote for your favorite bonsai display to help select best in show. Techniques for creating bonsai will be demonstrated by members of the Prairie State Bonsai Society. Bonsai and bonsai supplies will also be available for purchase. LEARN MORE

Explore Asian Tree Collections: Take a hike to our collections from China, Japan, and Korea and enjoy the beautiful plants native to Asia. Stop by the Destination Asia Discovery Cart located in Arbor Court to take a virtual tour of our trees from China, Japan, and Korea.  Pick an object from the cart and hear a story about one of the trees in our Asian Collections.  Each journey is unique based on the item picked. Explorers can also walk out to our tree collections to meet the tree whose story you heard.  Learn more about our Asian Collections at The Morton Arboretum.
Dig Deeper and Register for Classes: Enroll in a bonsai workshop Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7. For a full list of available workshops and to register, please click here.
Indulge in Asian Cuisine: From food trucks and vendors to the Ginkgo Restaurant, there are Asian inspired menu options available.  Download the Sweet Station Chinese Menu here.