DOWNTOWN — The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park will host its 11th annual “Festival of the August Moon’’ Thursday, Aug. 19 to honor two distinguished residents for their services and contributions to the community and to raise funds for an expansion project. This year, the Niwa award will be given to David and Lesley Cohn — proprietors of the Corvette Diner, according to a press release issued from the Friendship Garden. The event will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 for members and $80 for non-members. All the proceeds will benefit the Garden’s expansion project. Officials say the event will feature a silent auction of unique collectables, offer gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, and feature an Asian-inspired menu by Continental Catering. In addition, the event will feature performances by taiko drummers and Japanese koto music by East West Jazz featuring Reiko Obata. This year’s featured performance will be San Diego’s local Three Tenors ensemble, which will perform traditional Japanese and contemporary arrangements. The Cohns opened the Corvette Diner, a 1950s-inspired diner, in 1986. The two eventually established the Cohn Restaurant Group — ‘‘a family of award winning restaurants.’’ The Cohns currently own and operate 10 restaurants in the San Diego area and an additional establishment in Kapalua, Maui. ‘‘Believing in the importance of giving back to the community, the Cohns continuously involve themselves and their establishments in community events and charity fund-raisers,’’ the release states. ‘‘The Garden is honored to be one of the many organizations they have actively supported throughout the years.’’ The Festival of the August Moon is just one of several fundraisers and cultural events to benefit the garden’s expansion project. Currently, the garden sits on 2 1/2 acres. However, after completion, it will expand to 11 acres, making it the largest public Japanese-style garden in the U.S., according to the release. Officials hope to have the expansion completed by 2014, one year prior to the 100th anniversary of Balboa Park. For more information on the event, contact (619) 232-2721 or e-mail [email protected]. The Japanese Friendship Garden is located at 2215 Pan American Road E.