Lotus and Water Lily Festival

By Michelle Phipps-Evans

A warm Saturday in June attracted several people to the annual Lotus & Water Lily Festival at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Northeast Washington, D.C. Visitors enjoyed a display of lotus and water lilies in full bloom, gardening workshops, traditional Asian and African dancing performances, face painting, lotus tea tasting, art creations and more.

Co-sponsored by the Modern Buddhism of America Inc., Infinite Possibilities International and the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the theme for this year’s free festival on June 13 was “Beyond Borders: Showcasing Lotus and Water Lilies as Cultural Icons from Africa and Asia.”