A UNIQUE summer festival featuring a huge range of activities will take place at the Japanese Garden at Cowden this weekend.

The two-day event celebrates the opening of the spot to the public at the beginning of July, the first time since 1955.

Visitors can experience the garden, which can be found a mile from Dollar Academy, along with a number of special attractions on Saturday and Sunday, September 1 and 2.

There will be two marquees and activities will include talks, workshops, flower arrangement, sumi painting and calligraphy, along with Japanese drum ensemble.

Grab some street food, listen to the traditional songs, witness some fantastic martial arts and find out about archery at the Wee County location.

The gates will open at 9.45am each day, with the events running from 10.30am-4pm.

According to Tom McCappin, project manager, the garden is a "golden egg" in the county that has been there for a while, but just needs to be rediscovered.

He said of the upcoming event: "It's an introduction of some aspects of Japanese culture and food and it's being held at the Japanese Garden... to encourage people to enjoy the whole Japanese experience when they come out to the garden for a visit."

The garden was first established in 1908 by Ella Christie of Cowden Castle, before it was handed over to her great nephew Robert Stewart.

However, it was closed for more than 50 years after a spate of vandalism in 1963 – the tea houses and bridges were burned, with lanterns and shrines knocked into the water.

When it was taken on by Robert’s daughter, Sara Stewart, in 2008 she decided to bring it back to its former glory and a long-term restoration project began.

Head along to the festival this weekend to enjoy the Taiko (drum band) performance by Mugenkyo, kimono arrangement displays, along with an archery display on the Sunday.

There will be Japanese traditional songs by Kiyoka Hachiya, Japanese martial art display, accompanied garden tours as well as a history of the garden tour by Sara Stewart.

In addition to the ticketed entry to the garden, tea room and free attractions there will be events to participate in for a small additional charge, including practical garden tours with Professor Fukuhara, Kate White and Junya Matsukawa, Sumi painting workshop with Koshu and flower arrangement workshops (Ikebana) with Rie Day.

To book and for more information, visit cowdengarden.com