Lauritzen Ambience Festival

Japanese Ambience FestivalA salute to Shizuoka, Japan, and the Japanese culture
Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2025
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  
For an entire weekend, the garden grounds are alive with merriment as guests celebrate the joys of autumn and experience the Japanese culture first-hand. Most activities are free with garden admission or membership. 


The Omaha Sister Cities Association helps host the Autumn and Japanese Ambience Festival, with a variety of activities to celebrate the Japanese culture. Japanese Ambience also celebrates the anniversary of the gift of the Japanese Sunpu Castle Gate at Lauritzen Gardens by Shizuoka, Japan, Omaha's first Sister City. Enjoy activities like Japanese calligraphy, koinobori, origami, chop sticks, traditional Japanese games, food tastings and more. Performances will include martial arts demonstrations, taiko drumming and traditional Japanese music and dance. Paid activities will help fund the construction of phases II and III of the future Japanese garden at Lauritzen Gardens.