ST. LOUIS — You can experience beautiful flowers, delicious food, and thrilling sumo fights all weekend long at the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Jessika Eidson, Missouri Botanical Garden Public Information Officer, said they look forward to the festival every year.
"We've been doing this for 47 years, and it's really become a tradition, not only for St. Louis, but just for the Japanese American community at large," she said.
Eidson said it's one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States, and for many St. Louis families, spending Labor Day weekend at the Missouri Botanical Garden is a given.
"We have tickets that sell out for certain exhibits, like two and a half months in advance, so I think St. Louis has just really adopted this festival and made it part of that yearly calendar to look forward to," she said.
The festival embraces Japanese customs with food, fashion and more. According to Eidson, they expect 45,000 people throughout the weekend.
"Just the environment and the culture here, there's a lot to do. There's something for everyone," she said.
Steve Shih, PokeDoke Owner, comes to the festival yearly to share his food, as he carries on his parent's legacy and family recipes.
"I was working for [my dad], and then now he's working with us. It's a family business, we're truly a family business," he said.
Shih opened up PokeDoke with his siblings in 2017 and has spent the past seven Labor Day weekends at the Japanese Festival.
"Exposes people to the type of food that we can offer, the type of artwork, performances. There's so much that goes on in this festival that people could really immerse themselves in the Japanese culture," he said.
PokeDoke offered new and exclusive items, just for festival goers only, including made from scratch gyoza and Sakura Rose Boba Tea.
"They have beautiful cherry blossoms here, so you could sip on the Sakura rose and also have a nice view of their gardens," Shih said.
Soaking up the view, while experiencing the culture, is something Eidson said is a 'privilege.'
"We're honored here in St. Louis to have that and to just come out and have a good time while you're learning about culture as well," she said.
The festival runs from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday - Sunday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Labor Day. General admission is $18, and kids get in for $9.
