Destination Asia Festival

Explore the diverse cultures of Asia through music, dance, food, and trees.

On Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, bring your family and friends to The Morton Arboretum to explore the cultures and traditions of Asia during the annual Destination Asia Festival.

Taste delicious food from local vendors, enjoy live music, and take in traditional dances and performances celebrating the diversity of Asian cultures.

Event Highlights

The Destination Asia Festival is a weekend-long event featuring arts demonstrations, musical and cultural performances, and interactive activities for all ages.

See the full schedule and map of performances and activities.

Food trucks will be on-site selling food and beverages throughout the event.

The festival takes place along ADA accessible, paved walking paths of the Visitor Center area, Meadow Lake Trail, and the Conifer Walk.

Ticket Details

Admission to the Destination Asia Festival is included with Arboretum general admission.

Purchase general admission online in advance for Saturday, August 2, or Sunday, August 3. Buy general admission online to save $2 per ticket and save time in line.

Bonsai Show

The Prairie State Bonsai Society is proud to present an exhibition of bonsai at The Morton Arboretum’s Destination Asia Festival. View a display of mature bonsai trees and trees in training at the Bonsai Show on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Coming Soon—Anime Night!

Return to the Arboretum on Thursday, August 21, for Anime Night—a family-friendly evening event featuring hands-on craft activities, live performances of Japanese city pop music, anime and manga drawing workshops, and authentic Japanese foods.

Temperate Asia Collection and Global Tree Conservation

The Morton Arboretum maintains and celebrates its strong, enduring ties to Asia through its living tree and plant collections and its global research collaborations. The Arboretum’s Temperate Asia Collection includes many trees and shrubs from temperate Asian countries—including China, Japan, and Korea—which share a climate similar to the Midwest. Arboretum scientists and conservation practitioners work in partnership with experts across Asia to advance tree science, conservation, and forest management in a rapidly changing world.

View and download the map.

An information tent, as well as food trucks and concessions, can be found at Location 5.

Saturday, August 2

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Bonsai Show, Prairie State Bonsai Society
Location 4

9:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Chinese yo-yo performance
Location 1

Traditional Chinese lion dance, Seven Star Lion Dance Group
Location 2

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Philippine folk dances, Philippine American Cultural Foundation
Location 1

Mongolian throat singing, Otgonbaatar Bat-ochir
Location 3

Bonsai demonstration, Prairie State Bonsai Society
Location 4

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Taiko drumming with Shubukai dance, Asian Improve aRts Midwest
Location 2

11:00 a.m. to noon
Chinese classical music, Kerry Leung
Location 1

Indian dance, Acharya Performing Arts Academy
Location 3

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Interactive origami folding, Marilyn Schweitzer
Location 6

11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Japanese archery, Fuko Kyudojo
Location 7

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sumo wrestling performance, USA Sumo
Location 2

Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Classical Indian dance, Kalakriti School of Dance
Location 3

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
TBA
Location 2

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Cambodian traditional music, Cambodian Traditional Music Ensemble
Location 1

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Taiko drumming with Shubukai dance, Asian Improve aRts Midwest
Location 2

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Pungmul drumming, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
Location 1

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Sumo wrestling performance, USA Sumo
Location 2

Bonsai demonstration, Prairie State Bonsai Society
Location 4

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
J-pop and anime music, ORiHANA
Location 1

Sunday, August 3

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Prairie State Bonsai Society, Bonsai Show
Location 4

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Japanese martial arts, Shinto Muso Ryu
Location 2

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Midwest Cricket League
Location 7

Folk dancing and mandala arts, Mandala South Asia Performing Arts
Location 3

Bonsai demonstration, Prairie State Bonsai Society
Location 4

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Chinese yo-yo interactive booth
Location 5

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Taiko drumming with Shubukai Dance, Asian Improv aRts Midwest
Location 2

11:00 a.m. to noon
Chinese classical music, Kerry Leung
Location 1

Pungmul drumming, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
Location 3

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Interactive origami folding, Marilyn Schweitzer
Location 6

11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Japanese archery, Fuko Kyudojo
Location 7

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sumo wrestling performance, USA Sumo
Location 2

Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Classical Cambodian dance, Tep Nimitt Dance Troupe
Location 1

Japanese ensemble music, Chicago Koto Group
Location 3

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Indonesian gamelan music, Friends of the Gamelan: Javanese Ensemble
Location 1

Indian classical music, Akshaya Music Academy
Location 3

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Taiko drumming with Shubukai dance, Asian Improv aRts Midwest
Location 2

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Traditional Bali music and dance, Friends of the Gamelan: Balinese Ensemble
Location 1

Mongolian throat singing, Otgonbaatar Bat-ochir
Location 3

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Sumo wrestling performance, USA Sumo
Location 2

Bonsai demonstration, Prairie State Bonsai Society
Location 4

3:00 to 3:15 p.m.
Chinese yo-yo performance
Location 1

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
J-pop and anime music, ORiHANA
Location 3

3:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Traditional Chinese lion dance, Seven Star Lion Dance Group
Location 1

An information tent, as well as food trucks and concessions, can be found at Location 5.

Bonsai Show and Workshops

The Prairie State Bonsai Society is proud to present an exhibition of bonsai at The Morton Arboretum’s Destination Asia Festival. Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and developing trees and other woody-stemmed plants in pots. View a display of mature bonsai trees and trees in training at the Bonsai Show on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3.

Bonsai Workshops

Discover the art of bonsai, develop your styling and wiring skills, or receive advice on your own bonsai tree. Bonsai workshops take place on-site at The Morton Arboretum on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3.

Food Options

Food Trucks

Food and beverages will be available to purchase from food trucks at Location 5.

Gaijin
Savory Japanese pancakes, shaved ice desserts, mochi donuts

Hello Boba
Boba, milk tea, smoothies, coffee drinks, fruit refreshers

Izakaya Shinya
Japanese street food

Lu’s Fine Asian Cuisine
Chinese and Japanese cuisine, sushi

Mahal Tea (Saturday only)
Cold brew tea

Yum Dum
Dumplings, baowiches, rice balls

Ginkgo Restaurant and Café

Food and beverages are available at the Ginkgo Restaurant and the Ginkgo Café, both located in the Visitor Center. The Ginkgo Restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, the Ginkgo Café will offer sushi, prepackaged salads and sandwiches, bakery items, espresso beverages, hot tea, and drip coffee.