2020-21盆踊りをキャンセルすること/2020-21 Events Cancelled

Due to safety concerns with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our Japan Affairs committee has decided not to hold the Bon Odori Japanese Festival until it is safe to gather so many people together  indoors again. Click here for the 2020 announcement. Let’s look forward to celebrating again when the festival returns! We hope that everyone and their families are healthy and safe! – JAASC

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Bon Fest 2019 is over! THANK YOU to everyone who attended, performed, or participated in any way! If you share photos online please use hashtags #jaasc #obonSC or tag us so we can see them. We will post our 2019 photos and videos soon. Please check out the other events we host and attend throughout the year, and we’ll see you back here for Bon Dance 2020! 

Since 1995,  South Carolina residents have enjoyed Bon Dance Festival, an annual celebration of Japanese culture in the form of a late summer festival during the Japanese holiday Obon.

Bon Dance Festival 2019 – #obonSC #jaasc 
Saturday, August 24, 12:30pm-4:30pm
(Doors open early for setup and food sales)
RSVP and invite friends to Facebook event.
McAlister Square 
225 S Pleasantburg Dr | Greenville, SC 29607
See 2019 schedule below.
RSVP and invite friends to Facebook event!

The Greenville Bon Dance Festival includes Bon Odori (the Bon Dance, see a demonstration from 2018) with participants in colorful kimono, yukata and happi coats, as well as delicious food from numerous participating Upstate vendors.  

This event is family-friendly, and is currently held indoors in comfortable air conditioning, regardless of weather conditions.

There are Japanese crafts, games, prizes, Taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations including kyudo archery and kendo, and traditional Japanese arts including calligraphy, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, and origami.

Admission and participation in many activities are free. Tickets can be purchased for food, raffles, and participation in games. If you’d like food, we recommend you arrive early — it goes fast!

2019 Japanese Festival Schedule
11:30am Gate Open
12:30pm Taiko drumming by Ronin Taiko
1:00pm Bon Dance led by Midori no Kai
1:15pm Hula Dance by Hokukea
1:30pm Kyudo archery by SC Kyudo Renmei
1:45pm Tea Ceremony by WNC Japanese Culture Center
2:15pm Bon Dance led by Midori no Kai
2:30pm Hula Dance by Hokukea
2:45pm Taiko drumming by Ronin Taiko
3:15pm Kendo demonstration by Greenville Kendo Club
3:45pm Sanshin musical performance by Gachimaya
4:15pm Bon Dance led by Midori no Kai
4:30pm Festival End

Everyone is welcome. This event is hosted by the Japan-America Association of South Carolina (JAASC), and comes together with help of numerous local and regional organizations, individuals, businesses and volunteers dedicated to the purpose.

The organizers of this event are dedicated to the purpose of fostering and promoting positive relationships among the peoples of the United States and Japan through meaningful educational, social and cultural exchanges.