Oshogatsu Family Festival: Welcome the Year of the Snake
January 5, 2026 @ 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oshogatsu Family Festival: Welcome the Year of the Snake
Ring in the Japanese New Year with taiko drums, crafts, and cultural fun—free all day for families!
Ring in the Japanese New Year with taiko drums, crafts, and cultural fun—free all day for families!
Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Japanese American National Museum
100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Japanese American National Museum
100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Celebrate Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) with a day packed with hands-on activities and performances inspired by the Year of the Snake! Dive into Japanese American traditions through:
- Performances: Taiko drumming & mochitsuki (rice-pounding ritual) by Kodama Taiko (12:30 PM & 4:15 PM), EISA folk dance, kendo exhibition match, improv comedy by Cold Tofu, and storytimes with The Mochi Makers.
- Crafts & Activities: Origami snakes, spiral snake crafts, bookmark making, scavenger hunt for prizes in the Common Ground exhibit, and candy sculpture demos by Shan the Candyman (with raffle prizes!).
- Family Perks: Souvenir photo booth, library card sign-ups with kids’ crafts, and a collections book sale.
This free, all-ages event is your last chance to explore JANM’s exhibitions like Giant Robot Biennale 5 and Contested Histories before renovations begin.
It’s a perfect cultural adventure for afterschool groups to learn about history, traditions, and community—fostering empathy and global awareness through interactive fun.
Admission: FREE all day (includes exhibits) • No registration needed • Reserved seating & express lanes for members (join on-site for a free gift!)
Virtual option: Watch select performances on JANM’s YouTube channel. Â
Virtual option: Watch select performances on JANM’s YouTube channel. Â
