Lian (蓮): The Lotus Festival
July 3 @ 10:00 AM – August 22 @ 5:30 PM
July 3 – August 22, 2026
Celebrate the beauty and versatility of lotus at Lan Su Chinese Garden during Lian (蓮): The Lotus Festival this summer. Enjoy garden walks, an art and plant showcase, hands-on activities, and more as we honor this iconic flower.
Lotus Festival Experiences
Everyone Will Love It
The Lotus Market
July 24-26 | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Shop lotus-inspired art, accessories, home decor, treats, and more brought in by community vendors. Plus, take home your very own lotus to grow from Lan Su’s plant sale!
Live Music Among Lotus
Every Thursday, July 9 – August 20 | 3:30-5:30 PM | Free with admission or membership
Enjoy a peaceful afternoon surrounded by blooming lotus ponds and experience live guzheng performances from the garden’s waterside pavilions and bridges.
Chinese Homestyle Cooking Demonstration: Lotus
Saturdays, July 11 & August 8 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Free with admission or membership
In Chinese cuisine, every part of the lotus is useful. Lotus flowers, leaves, seeds, and roots are all popular summer ingredients. Help beat the summer heat with the sweet, unique flavors and refreshing qualities of the lotus!
Best for Gardeners & Plant-Lovers
Plant Tour: The Lotus of Lan Su
Every Thursday, July 9 – August 20 | 3-4 PM | Free with admission or membership
Join a Lan Su gardener for a one-hour guided exploration of the garden’s one-of-a-kind lotus collection.
Lotus Talk Series: Cultivation
Saturdays, July 11 & August 8 | 1-2 PM | Free with admission or membership
This talk will share must-know tips and practical advice from seasoned lotus growers in Lan Su Chinese Garden’s horticulture team.
Lotus Talk Series: Medicine
Saturday, July 18 | 1-2 PM | Free with admission or membership
In traditional Chinese medicine, the lotus is known as a gentle and cooling herbal ingredient. Join us to learn from a Chinese medicine practitioner, Carmen Chin, about the healing properties and traditional uses of the lotus.
Great for Kids & Families
Story Time: Ne Zha (哪吒) the Lotus Warrior
Tuesdays, July 7 – August 18 | 12-1 PM | Free with admission or membership
Join our story time session to discover how Ne Zha (哪吒)—the most famous child hero in Chinese mythology—was reborn from a lotus flower and gained even greater magical powers!
Make Your Own Paper Lotus
Saturday, July 4; Mondays, July 6-27 & August 3-17 | 10 AM – 4 PM | Free with admission or membership
Inspired by the pink lotus flowers and lush green leaves floating across Lan Su’s Lake Zither, this hands-on activity invites you to create your own beautiful paper lotus to take home.
For the Dedicated Artists
Steep & Paint: Lotus
Fridays, July 17, 31, & August 14 | 2-5 PM | Separate tickets required
Learn the lotus plant up close from a Lan Su gardener, enjoy a sampling of seasonal teas from Yun Shui Teahouse, and join an Oregon Botanical Artists (OBA) instructor for a guided art project inspired by the featured plant. Mediums vary by instructor. Seats are limited and sell out every time!
Lotus Impressions: Ceramic Art in the Garden
Monday Class: July 27 & August 3 [OR] Thursday Class: July 30 & August 6 | 2-4 PM | Separate tickets required
Create a one-of-a-kind ceramic lotus bowl using real lotus leaves from Lan Su’s own water lotus collection. This two-part, hands-on workshop invites you to shape, imprint, glaze, and finish your own ceramic bowl with guidance from Teo Lee, Owner and Founder of Earth & Fire Ceramics.
Lotus Tracker
Watch our rare collection of beautiful lotus flowers grow from Lake Zither this summer through fall. Don’t miss the only place in Portland to visit these iconic flowers!
Parking & Directions
Free Lan Su Parking
There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.
