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 annual Children’s Day Festival to honor the lives of children incarcerated at the camp with an array of games, crafts, and activities organized in collaboration with community partners from around the Bighorn Basin. Build and fly your own kite or balsa glider! Stop by our 1940s games station, run by the Homesteader Museum! Paint rocks with the Meeteetse Museum! Join the Park County Library for story time and planting activity! Big Brothers Big Sisters will be hosting a giant bubble station! Finally, Girl Scouts will help you can make your own Koinobori (Japanese carp) flags and origami dolls! Stick around for treats from Haley's Concessions and Beartooth Concessions!

This community centered event is open to the public with an admission fee of $15 per car.