If you are excited by culture, tradition and history – or are just on the lookout for a change of pace this weekend – Nathanael Greene Park is the place to be. The Japanese Fall Festival will be at the Botanical Gardens of Nathanael Greene Park, located at 2400 S. Scenic Avenue. The festival runs from Sept. 7 through Sept. 9. Adult admission is $7 on Friday and Sunday, and $10 on Saturday. Admission is $3 for children on all three days.

Culture at the festival

The festival is an opportunity for the community to learn about Japanese culture and traditions while fostering a bond with Springfield’s sister city, Isesaki. The two cities have been partnered since 1986 and continue their mission of encouraging diversity, cultural exchange and understanding.

A delegation from Isesaki is present at the festival every year to perform and take part in the activities. Springfield sends performance groups to play a part in the Isesaki festival as well. Citizen trips are organized in October and are separate from the festival exchanges. Isesaki also played a role in establishing the Mizumoto Stroll Garden, where many of the festival’s events take place.

“Springfield has a sister city in Japan, so there is a lot of information telling you about Isesaki,” explained Drury junior, Jeana Scott. “We strolled through the Japanese garden they have at Nathanael Greene and visited booths set up for crafts there.”

Something for everyone

Additional activities include a storyteller, martial arts demonstrators, folk dancers and local musicians that have traveled to Japan to perform in the sister city festival such as Uke 66 and The Shandies. The Creek Rocks, a band that performed at this year’s Isesaki festival, will put on a set Sunday afternoon. Foreign language students from Kickapoo High School will also run a crafts section for children.

This year, the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York will appear at the festival. Their mission is to highlight the history and culture of the nation through traditional dances that include many costumes and props.

“There were a lot of dancers and opportunities to dress up with traditional styles and cosplay,” said Laura Meredith, a former Drury student and festival attendee.

Sunday events will include the opportunity to participate in a Japanese tea ceremony for an additional $10, as well as a tea café for $5. Attendees will be able to try on kimonos, a traditional style of clothing, as soon as the festival opens for the day.

For those more inclined to leisure, both vendor and concession tents will be set up all weekend where one can purchase local art, gifts and snacks from Japan. At dusk, the gardens will be illuminated by candlelight as soft Japanese music plays for peaceful and atmospheric walks down its paths.

A cosplay competition closes out the festival on Sunday evening. Cosplay includes dressing up as characters, usually from Japanese pop culture.

The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday and will run to 10 p.m. that night. Saturday events will start at 11 a.m. and last until 10 p.m. Sunday will also begin at 11 a.m. and finish with the cosplay contest at 4:45 p.m. This is a chance to learn about a different culture and become more involved with the Springfield community; don’t miss out!

Article written by Maclen Johnson