Taiko drumming can certainly be enjoyed via recording, but seeing the drummers perform live, and feeling the bigness of the sound from just feet away, is a true treat. And there happens to be two festivals where taiko artists will be playing over the Nov. 5-6 weekend. Can you do both? It's taiko.
Autumn Festival: A Celebration of Asian Culture is at the Aquarium of the Pacific on both November 5 and 6. In addition to the drummers, the festival will feature martial arts demos, the cuisines of Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines, origami and craft-making. Dance presentations will also be part of the weekend. An admission to the aquarium is good for an admission to the festival, so be sure to call upon the lorikeets and the jellies while in the house.
Descanso Garden's Japanese Garden Festival will also spotlight the traditional drumming -- on both Saturday and Sunday, note -- in addition to a tea ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 6. We're also much intrigued by the artist who will take an eight-foot piece of paper -- that's large -- and create origami. That's happening at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Admission to the La Canada garden is all you need to enjoy the festival, although the tea ceremony is ticketed separately. You'll also want to take time to stroll the green space, which is wearing its golden-sweet, fall-finery best.
