BON-DANCE
FESTIVAL
Don't Miss This Tradition
The Japanese Bon Dance Festival is one of our most significant cultural traditions. It mimics similar Obon festivals held in Japan around the Japanese ancestral holiday of Obon. The Bon Dance Festival includes Bon Odori, which is performed in colorful kimono, yukata, and happi coats. The Bon Dance Festival represents an energetic mix of traditional festival activities, some local vendors, and foods.
The festival is volunteer-operated and organized by JAASC’s Japan Affairs committee every August in Greenville, SC as a fundraiser for non-profit operations and programs.
2026 Bon Dance Festival
Saturday, August 22, 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
McAlister Square
225 S Pleasantburg Dr | Greenville, SC 29607
RSVP and invite friends!
Free entry. Tickets can be purchased for activities, bento boxes, raffles, and festival games. Crafts, baked goods, etc. accept cash or card (vendor dependent).
Doors open at 11:45 AM. If you’d like a bento box provided by local SC and Greenville restaurants, we recommend arriving earlier — they sell out fast! Bento availability is not guaranteed. Cash is preferred, but JAASC can also accept tap-to-pay and credit cards that have chips for a small fee.
We do not have advanced ticket sales.
Available activities include: Japanese Lottery, Festival games such as Yoyo Fishing & Strikezone, Calligraphy practice, I-Go board games, Japanese goods, Japanese crafted goods, Origami, Omikuji fortunes, Yukata Dressup, and more!
This event is volunteer-run by JAASC, its corporate members, and the Japan Affairs committee with support from local businesses and community volunteers.
Interested in volunteering at an activity or portion of the festival? Send us a message!
What to Expect
Fun for the whole family, the Bon Dance Festival is held indoors in comfortable air conditioning, regardless of weather conditions.
The typical schedule includes the following:
11:45 am
Doors Open
12:30 pm
Taiko Drum performance by Ronin Taiko
1:00 pm
Bon Dance by Midorino Kai
1:15 pm
JPOP dance by HANA AKARI
1:30 pm
Kyudo Archery demo by SC Kyudo Renmei
1:55 pm
Karate by Kazoku Karate
2:15 pm
Sanshin Concert by GACHIMAYA
2:45 pm
Bon Dance by Midorino Kai
3:00 pm
Taiko Drum Performance by Ronin Taiko
3:15 pm
Aikido demonstration by Upstate Aikido
3:25 pm
Kendo Wooden Sword Martial Arts Demo by Greenville Kendo Club
3:55 pm
TBD
4:30 pm
Festival End
Join the Bon Odori, Bon Dances, led by Midorino Kai
Interested in sponsoring us?
The Bon Dance Festival is an annual fundraiser to support JAASC programs. We are always looking for new ways to connect members to the community. If you or your company are interested in sponsoring a portion of this event, please let us know. We would love to partner with you.