The Tanabata Festival is as big in Japan as Easter is here and this year TARA Arts is giving you the chance to experience it on your doorstep.

The venue has teamed up with its international associate artist Nanako Kume to put on the festival which is celebrated every year by Japanese and Chinese people all around the world.

The unique opportunity for children and families to experience the magic of Tanabata will include a one-woman story-telling of the legend of Tanabata as well as the traditional chance to hang a wish on a bamboo tree.

"We believe that two stars up in the sky that we call Hikoboshi (Alter) and Orihime (Vega) meet every year on the seventh day of the seventh month," explains Tokyo born Nanako on the origins of the festival.

"However, because we use the Gregorian calendar the dates change and this year it falls on August 26."

The legend of Tanabata was inspired by the famous Chinese folklore, The Princess and the Cowherd, which revolves around Orihime.

Although she worked hard weaving beautiful clothes by the banks of the Amanogawa (Milky Way), she was sad because she could never meet and fall in love with anyone.

Concerned about her, her father, Tentei, arranged for her to meet cowherder Hikoboshi, who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa.

They fell in love and married but Orihime no longer weaved cloth and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over heaven, resulting in an angry Tentei separating them across the Amanogawa, allowing them to meet on July 7 only if Orihime finished her weaving in time.

As well as hearing the tale, performed by Elizabeth Chan, children will be given the opportunity to learn the Tanabata song and make a wish to hang on the bamboo tree.

"Not many people know about the festival but one of the main things is we suspend wishes on a bamboo tree and decorate the street," says Nanako.

"We use the bamboo tree because it is very strong and has strength going up to the sky."

The project is supported by JAPAN-UK 150, The Japan Society and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and is part of the Japan UK 150 year, a series of events in the UK organised to celebrate 150 years of friendship between the two countries running from autumn 2008 until the end of 2009.

Tanabata Star Festival, TARA Studio, Garatt Lane, August 26-29, 10.30am & 1.30pm (plus 3.30pm on Sat), £5.50. Call 020 8333 4457 or visit tara-arts.com.