2015.07.22
Nago Summer Festival is cancelled because of approaching typhoon Halola
Because of the approaching typhoon Halola that is expected to cause inclement weather, organizers have decided to cancel the fstival this year.
Nago City, about a one-hour drive north from Naha and other big cities of the southern part of Okinawa, is best known as the home of Orion Breweries, Okinawa’s own beer. It’s also the venue for an annual two-day summer festival that takes place at Nago Fishing Port. About 100,000 people are expected to visit the festival over the weekend of July 25th and 26th for the 38th edition of the festival.
The festival grounds feature some 60 food stalls and game booths that will serve visitors various traditional Japanese festival foods, beer, beverages and soft drinks, and plenty of games to test one’s skills, while a variety of stage events will entertain on both days. 1,000 fireworks will zoom to the sky on both days starting at 8 p.m.
The festival is organized by the Nago Junior Chamber of Commerce, with the local Orion Breweries being one of the biggest sponsors of the event. The event opens about 1 p.m. on both days and runs through 9 p.m. Admission the to the festival is free.
On Saturday, after the official opening ceremony at 1 p.m. the Japan Air Self Defense Force Southwestern Air Band takes the stage at 1:20 p.m., followed by children’s ‘Nin-nin-jya’ hero show at 3 and 6 p.m. Yukata contest decides who’s the prettiest at 6 p.m. and Kazufumi Miyazawa performs live at 7:20 p.m.
After the 8 p.m. fireworks, band Sky’s the Limit ends the evening with a 45-minute stage show starting at 8:15.
Sunday’s entertainment lineup includes Miyu Oshiro at 1:30 p.m. and Yanbaru Heat Orchestra at 2:10 p.m. Requios’ original Eisa performance ends the day after the fireworks.
The best part from a visitors’ point of view is that there’s plenty of free parking within a walking distance from the festival grounds in the fishing port area. And as always, organizers remind visitors to plan for a designated driver for a return trip in case they intend to indulge in some frosty suds produced just across a couple of city blocks from the festival grounds.