Children's Day Festival

Out of the nearly 14,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain during WWII, nearly one third were children. Children’s Day, or "Kodomo no Hi," is a traditional Japanese holiday and has been celebrated in Japan in some form since the 7th century. The holiday’s main focus is to honor the growth, happiness, and personalities of children.

In this spirit, join Heart Mountain Interpretive Center for our first ever Children’s Day Festival to honor the lives of children incarcerated at the camp on Saturday, May 14th. Stop by the Interpretive Center from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for an array of games, crafts, and activities organized in collaboration with community partners from around the Bighorn Basin. Build and fly your own kite with the Wyoming Service Corps! Stop by our 1940s games station, run by the Homesteader Museum! Learn about the animals of the Bighorn Basin with the Meeteetse Museums and the crops grown by Japanese Americans at Heart Mountain with Science Kids! Finally, the Park County Library will be leading several story times throughout the day! Stick around for sweet treats from Andy's Donuts and delicious BBQ from Randol's Southern Pit BBQ!