The Aoi Festival or Aoi Matsuri (��) is one of Kyoto's most three famous festivals.  The other two are the Gion Festival and Jidai Matsuri. The Aoi Festival takes place on May 15 each year. The main attraction of the festival is a large parade in Kyoto. Over 500 people dress in the aristocratic style of the Heian Period (794-1185) for the parade. They walk from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo Shrines. Aoi is Japanese for "Hollyhock" The festival is named after the Hollyhock leaves that are worn by the people in the parade.