By Bill Charles

Santa Claus arrives to town this weekend, and his debut is just the tip of the entertainment options at the Okinawa City International Carnival.

Okinawa City International Carnival tug-of-war rope may be smaller than Naha’s but participants enthusiasm more than makes up the differentce.

The Okinawa City International Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday in areas around Gate 2 Street, Koza Music Town and Chuo Park Avenue.  Admission is free. The new Santa Claus Carnival will fuel kids’ excitement, and is a part of the festival, which gets under way at noon both days, running until 9 p.m.

More than 200 Harley Davidson motorcycles take over the street in Sunday parade.

The International Great Tug-of-War, a carnival parade and The Samba Queen Contest are high points for Saturday. Although the rope is a bit smaller at International Carnival tug-of-war, the fun is at least as big as in Naha’s event. It’s a scaled down rope pull from the one that has put Naha City in the Guinness Book of World Records, but Okinawa City locals say theirs at 6 p.m. Saturday is just as much fun, drawing more than 2,200 participants.  The rope is roughly 80 meters long and weighs 10 tons.  Pre-tug of war performances will include music and karate demonstrations. The tug of war is open to all spectators, although young children should be kept clear of the rope.

The first day of the International Carnival also features an international parade with participants from various countries, including the United States and Philippines, presenting their cultures through performances. It’s also the time when Santa Claus, accredited by Greenland’s “International Association of Authorized Santa Clauses”, will come and warm up the carnival-goers. Before the event, visitors can sign up to be a participant in the parades. There will also be contests for the best costume, and organizers say it doesn’t have to be a Christmas costume. People taking part in the parade on Saturday are encouraged to dress up.

In the evening the street changes to live music venue.

Sunday, motorcycle riders from all over the island will assemble on Gate 2 Street, which will be closed to traffic and packed with some 200 bikes for the occasion. The Gate 2 Festival, with the rumbling—and somewhat loud—accent of more than 200 Harley Davidson motorcycles on the street, runs concurrently this weekend.  The motorcycle parade takes place Sunday at 2 p.m., blending the cultures of Okinawa, the United States and bikers of other nations.

A rock concert and dance performance are also on the Sunday program. Another fascinating draw is the Pro Wrestling exhibition. There will be plenty of food vendors and souvenir stands available to spectators, each offering a specialty unique to Okinawa, America or another country. Games and activities for children will be plentiful as well.

Organizers emphasize that streets and roadways will be subject to traffic restrictions during the weekend event.  They also encourage people to park a distance away, because parking in the immediate Chuo Park and Gate 2 Street areas is very limited.   All of Gate 2 Street, which is Highway 20, will be closed 10 a.m. ~ 9 p.m. both days. Saturday one lane on Route 330 closed 2 p.m. ~ 4 p.m., as well as part of Culture Center Street will be closed 1:30  p.m. ~ 3:30 p.m. All of Park Avenue / B.C. Street will be closed on Sunday afternoon 2 ~ 2:30 p.m.

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