For the first-time in 31 years, the Cambodian Buddhist Temple of Dallas, or Wat Jetapon Khemararam, and the Cambodian community leaders will open its doors to the public to for a three-day festival, celebrating the completion of their temple’s gates.

The festival will be filled with more than 25 Cambodian street food vendors, a marketplace for shopping, cultural performances, dances, music, and more.

The gates are the only replicas in the world like Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The 11 monks living at the temple and community volunteers have spent more than 4.5 years hand-carving and sculpting the extraordinary religious and symbolic gates. It measures at 32 ft. wide by 32 ft. in height.

This rare celebration and occasion will have more than 150 monks from across the nation and some from Cambodia who will join in the celebration and give their blessings upon the festival and the temple. City and community leaders will be in attendance for the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Festival Schedule

Friday, June 10

• 3 pm - Cultural performances & music begin on the main stage
• 5 pm - Monks blessings and chanting

Saturday, June 11

• 11 am - Food offerings to monks
• 12 pm - Cultural parade around the temple’s grounds
• 5 pm - Cultural performances, traditional dances & music begin on the main stage

Sunday, June 12

• 11 am - Food offerings to monks
• 1:30 pm - Cultural parade followed by cultural performances by gate
• 2 pm - Ribbon cutting ceremony at gate