Tanabata is a Japanese star festival. According to a folktale, Hikoboshi (star Altair) and Orihime (star Vega) were lovers and separated by the Milky Way to only meet once a year. Typically people celebrate on July 7.
Since I was a kid I loved learning about other cultures and especially holidays. In college I studied Japanese language and culture. I have lived in Japan and visited many times. I love celebrating holidays and throwing parties. I enjoyed my Hinamatsuri party so much that immediately afterward I started planning this Tanabata party. A friend who lives in Japan was amazing and sent me many fun Tanabata things to use. Eight children and three adults attended this party.
We made decorations, wrote out wishes, and hung them from bamboo. I had so much fun searching for, coming up with and making themed food for this party. My young guests were thrilled to celebrate with us and learn a little about this Japanese festival.
Table setting:
- Black paper plates
- Black and white paper straws (from Michaels)
- Black napkins with white stars (from Michaels)
- Silver plastic tablecloth
Tanabata Table Setting
Drinks:
I choose dark drinks to be reminiscent of the night sky.
- Chocolate milk
- Grape juice
Grape Juice
Food:
- Blue tortilla chips with salsa
- Edamame
- Fruit cups with stars (apple shooting stars, watermelon stars, red grapes, blueberries, pineapple)
- Alfredo Pasta Pie with Toasted Bread Stars (I did not exactly follow the recipe, I made my own cheese sauce and used cheddar. I did not use the basil, tomatoes, and green onions because I was serving kids. I did not put the bread stars under the pasta.) with Hikoboshi & Orihime (inspired by this.) I made their bodies out of bell pepper, faces out of cheese, and hair details are from dried seaweed. I put the characters on after baking but their faced did eventually melt into the hot pasta.
- Tanabata layered rice (I was inspired by this.) I filled mine with sauteed onion, black beans, and diced tomatoes. I topped it with snow pea and 2 stars.
- Roasted Zucchini
- Make your own Milky Way Pasta (I made spaghetti and tossed with a little butter. The kids put cucumber and carrot stars on top and added paper Hikoboshi & Orihime picks.) I re-sized this to make the picks.
- Star shaped rice balls with melted cheese
- Star dish with Japanese snacks
Tanabata Fruit Cups
Tanabata Pasta Pie
Tanabata Layered Rice
Make Your Own Milky Way Pasta
Star Cheese Onigiri
Star Snack
Dessert:
- MilkyWay candy
- Star brownies with powdered sugar and sprinkle stars (I used Ghirardelli Double Chocolate mix)
- Tanabata cookies (I was inspired by this)
- Grape jam tarts (I made a pie crust, fitted into a mini muffin pan, spooned in grape jam, added 2 stars and baked)
MilkyWay Candy
Grape Tanabata Tartlets
Star Bownies
Tanabata Cookies
Decorations:
Tanabata Bamboo
Tanzaku (Wishes)
Tanzaku Paper and Ties
Tanabata Net Decoration
Tanabata Decoration Kit
Tanabata Decorations
Favors:
Tanabata Folder with Stickers
Back of Tanabata Chocolate
Tanabata Chocolate Open
Eclectic Lamb 
This party is incredible! I can’t wait to plan a tanabata party next year!
Thank you so much!
So cute!! I love this!!
Thank you so much!
What a beautiful story and celebration! I loved the figures made out of pepper – they came out perfectly! I’m sure kids and adults alike will always remember this special dinner. What a great way to learn a cultural tradition 🙂 ~maria
Thank you so much Maria!
The Japanese have such fun traditions. Love your party food!
You thought of everything…including Milky Way bars!
Adorable! If I was doing this, I’d probably come up with some kind of kabob with star themes as well.
And… no starfruit?
What are you going to do with your Tanabata wishes (post-Tanabata)? There’s a protocol for those as well.
Thank you so much! It was a fun party.
Thank you! I love party planning.
Thank you! I had planned a blueberry and star watermelon kabob but ran out of time. I know that people used to throw the wishes in the river but it is now prohibited by law. What do people do now?
Burning if possible. In Japan, many places have a special Tanabata pick up or dumping area. Since you’re not in Japan, I guess you could throw them away.
But I like the idea that the burnt wishes will reach the heavens. I’ve always used an old coffee can to burn my tanzaku.
Great idea!
wow.. such a lovely party.. and I love all the star-shaped cut out food.. i’m attracted to that.. and those hand made decoration..
everything looks so yummy.. 🙂
Cute!
So interesting! Thanks.
Thank you!
Thank you!
This looks like a wonderful celebration. I love all the little details.
Thank you so much!
What a fantastic way to mark the occasion! Love how the star theme is carried through and the rice cakes look yummy!
Thank you so much! I enjoyed creating food for this party.
Thank you so much!
Amazing party! Do you have a copy of the little boy (Hokiboshi) and girl (Orihime) figures on sticks for Tanabata? Thanks!
Thank you! I resized and printed these http://illpop.com/png_season/july01_a20.htm
Excellent-thanks! They look so cute in the bowls of pasta!
Thank you so much! They were fun to make.