The Springfield Sister Cities Association, with support from the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, will host its 16th Japanese Fall Festival Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11 in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., with special performances by a world champion sumo wrestler, an authentic candy artist, taiko drummers and a wide array of other activities and performances.
The three-day festival runs from 5:30 – 10 p.m., Friday night; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday; and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for kids 12 and younger; and toddlers two years of age and under are free.
This year’s highlights include:
- Opening ceremonies on Friday night with a children’s gathering comprised of hundreds of local Kindergarten-through-sixth grade elementary students, who were invited as ambassadors to represent their classes from every Springfield public elementary school;
- Professional sumo wrestlers, one of which is a world champion (www.sumobyamba.com);
- Traditional Japanese candy artist (www.candymiyuki.com);
- Taiko drumming group Osuwa Taiko, from St. Louis (www.stltaiko.com);
- Traditional Japanese top spinner Hiroshi Tada, from St. Louis;
- Local martial artists groups, including those with sword demonstrations; and
- Local musical group who will travel to Japan in 2011
The festival also hosts daily tea ceremonies in the lakeside tea house, nightly candlelight strolls through the garden, hands-on activities for children, presentations by local performers, authentic Japanese food and regional artisans and merchants. A large tent top market features Japanese souvenirs and apparel for sale, with all proceeds benefiting SSCA and the Japanese Garden.
This year’s performance schedule will be available online here Sept. 1. For more information, media contact: Cindy Jobe, Festival Coordinator, 417-891-1191.
download 16th Japanese Fall Festival flyer – letter size here
