Events

Salt Lake JACL Calendar

Check out our monthly calendar of events. Add this Google Calendar to stay up-to-date on the latest events (bottom left of calendar).

Upcoming Events

Annual Meeting & Potluck

Please join the Salt Lake JACL for our Annual Membership Meeting and Potluck! We will review the past year and look ahead to 2026. We have some very exciting programs and events coming up in 2026, so you won't want to miss this special community event! We will also have goodie bags for all attendees, so please RSVP below.

Potluck-style, so please bring something to share. You can sign-up to bring something by filling out this Google Spreadsheet.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/tfbQcnRpBWmzLh2f8

Location: Westminster University Kim T. Adamson Alumni House (lower level) 1840 S 1300 E, SLC UT 84105. Parking free in North Lot (1771 S 1200 E, SLC UT 84105).

Salt Lake Buddhist Temple's Holiday Boutique

Come find the Salt Lake JACL at this year's Holiday Boutique! We will be vendor #19. Back by popular demand, we will be selling the Marumoto family's famous yakitori sauce. We will also have handcrafted ornaments, Japantown magnets, and more for sale!

Saturday 11/22 from 10am-4pm and Sunday 11/23 from 11am-3pm at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple (211 W 100 S, SLC, UT 84101)

Recent Events

Fall Peace Garden Cleanup

Please join Salt Lake JACL as we host our semi-annual clean-up at the Japanese garden in the International Peace Gardens!

This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity to meet new people, enjoy the fresh air, and give back to the community.

We will meet at 10am at the Japanese Garden in the International Peace Gardens at Jordan Park (1160 Dalton Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104)

Please bring your own water bottle, gardening gloves, and tools especially rakes, tarps, buckets, and weeders! We will supply additional tools for you to use. Light refreshments provided (tamago sandos, chips, muffins, and drinks).

Japantown Tour (10/18)

Salt Lake JACL has organized a Japantown Tour for our members on Saturday Oct 18th from 2-3pm. The tour will be hosted by the Japanese Church of Christ (JCC) and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple (SLBT). Leaders of JCC and SLBT will guide attendees through their places of worship to provide important history and context.

We will also see 3D renderings and hear the latest news regarding the Smith Entertainment Group's redevelopment of the Delta Center and the entertainment district, and how these might impact Japantown Street. We need community support to keep our voices centered as development continues in the area.

This is a wonderful opportunity to discover how you can get involved in the effort to preserve and revitalize Japantown in SLC. Please RSVP below.

Parking: Park at JCC

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/bvzNSEPxke5gDXJ27

JACL National x Salt Lake JACL

Alien Enemies Act Advocacy Training

Want to stay informed about what our JACL National policy experts are up to in D.C.? What to get involved in local advocacy efforts to protect our neighbors and friends here in Utah? Feel the need to do *something* but you don't quite know what that is?

Join JACL National and Salt Lake JACL in a advocacy training. You will learn about the history of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), how the AEA has been used to target our community in the past and other communities now, and how to effectively be an advocate! This workshop will give you the hands-on skills and knowledge to join us in our local efforts to protect and preserve our diverse communities!

RSVP: https://forms.gle/RErG9qHT3SYFvZV57

Annual Events

Panel of survivors and descendants of Japanese Incarceration during WWII

Day of Remembrance (Feb 19)

The three JACL chapters in Utah take turns hosting Day of Remembrance, which commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066 that ordered the forced removal and incarceration without due process of 125,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast of the United States many of whom were citizens.

Group of people at the Japanese International Peace Garden. Cherry blossoms and a stone lantern in the background.

Spring Peace Garden Clean Up (March)

Every Spring, the Salt Lake JACL organizes a Japanese Peace Garden cleanup at the International Peace Gardens at Jordan Park. Join us in keeping the garden looking beautiful and preserving it for generations to come! You will be rewarded with the Marumoto's tamago sandos (oishii)!

A group of taiko performers playing at Nihon Matsuri

Nihon Matsuri / Japan Festival (April)

Nihon Matsuri or Japan Festival is a celebration of Japanese culture in Utah. Come for the amazing performances, educational exhibits, and the booths! The three JACL chapters run a booth where you can learn about Japanese American history, play carnival games, and will fun prizes!

Large group of Nikkei seniors listening to koto players at the Nikkei Center Luncheon.

Nikkei Senior Center Luncheon (April)

In April, our chapter hosts the Nikkei Senior Center Luncheon where our volunteers prepare a chicken yakitori meal using the Marumoto's secret family recipe! The luncheon also features Japanese entertainment and it a wonderful time for our Nikkei seniors to build community.

Memorial for Nikkei veterans. In the foreground, boy scout troop 442 salutes.

Memorial Day (May)

The Utah chapters of JACL organize a memorial day service dedicated to the Japanese Americans whose lives were lost in battle during World War II. Prayers are given by the three local Japanese churches and Scout Troop 442 performs the flag ceremony. All are welcome to attend.

Woman and her two girls are making origami at the Salt Lake JACL booth during Living Traditions festival.

Living Traditions (May)

The Salt Lake JACL usually has a booth at Living Traditions so we can share the history of Japanese Americans in Utah and Japanese culture with the broader public. Swing by our booth for games and activities!

The booth at Utah Asian Festival, including 1,000 rainbow cranes and a poster about JACL

Utah Asian Festival (June)

Our chapter has a nonprofit booth at the Utah Asian Festival! Stop by the booth to learn more about our programs and events that serve the AAPI community in Utah. The Utah Asian Festival attracts tens of thousands of attendees every year!

Two women holding signs at SLC Pride festival. One sign says "Free Mom Hugs" and the other says "Asian Mom Hugs".

SLC Pride Festival (July)

We are proud to have been a part of the community-led SLC Pride Festival since it's inaugural year in 2024. We look forward to this festival and sharing our love for the LGBTQIA+ community!

A large group of people eating food at picnic tables in Jordan Park.

Tri-Chapter JACL Picnic (Aug)

The three Utah chapters of JACL come together to organize a tri-chapter picnic in Jordan Park. One of the biggest highlights of the picnic is that we invite Japanese exchange students and their host families from our sister city, Matsumoto City!

A large group of smiling volunteers at the Japanese International Peace Garden. Fall foliage in the background.

Fall Peace Garden Cleanup (Oct)

Every Fall, we meet at the Japanese section of the International Peace Gardens to rake leaves and maintain the garden. Come meet new people and enjoy a lovely day out while engaging in some service to the community!

Mini Christmas tree covered in crochet sushi ornaments

SLBT Holiday Boutique (Nov)

Wondering what to get your loved ones for the holidays? Come find us at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple's annual Holiday Boutique. Shop local and support the JA community. Try a free sample of the Marumoto's secret family yakitori sauce and buy a bottle (or two or three)!

The Salt Lake JACL board and members in front of a big screen and tables.

Salt Lake JACL Annual Meeting (Dec)

At our annual meeting in December, Salt Lake JACL members gather to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the next. This is also when we have elections for the board. All are welcome! Join us if you want to hear about what the chapter has been up to and to get more involved!

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