Celebrate Japanese arts, crafts and culture at the Japanese Garden Festival November 6 and 7, 2010, in Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada /Flintridge, California. Bonus: a performance by taiko drummers, special food for purchase and other fun.

The Festival is free with Gardens admission ($8, adults). The gardens are open daily except for December 25. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry is 4:30 p.m.). There is ample free parking.

Descanso Gardens, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. In 1953, Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy preserved these 150 acres of gardens, woodlands and chaparral for future generations to experience the natural heritage and beauty of Southern California. It’s part of the American Horticultural Society’s reciprocal admissions program.