Zento Eisa Matsuri returns Aug. 23

The 64th Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri, a major festival to celebrate summer in Okinawa, will return Aug. 23 – Aug. 25.

The three-day event draws around 300,000 people every year, and like last year, the festival is expected to conclude with Kachashi, a dance for everyone to take part in before the fireworks display.

On the first day of the event, an Eisa parade takes place on local streets around Goya intersection on Gate 2 street. On the second and third days, Eisa dance teams from all over the island come together to perform at Koza Sports Park.

Also, like in years past, this will be a joint event with the Orion Beer Festival, which is set to take place at a playground in the sports park. The stage will be filled with live music, while event goers can enjoy freshly brewed Orion beer.

Eisa and beer are two things that surely represent summer on Okinawa.

The 64th Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri & Orion Beer Fest
Dates: Aug. 23-25, (Beer Fest on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25)
Time: Aug. 23: 6:30 – 9 p.m.; Aug. 24-25: 3 – 9 p.m.
Admission: free admission to both Eisa and Orion Beer festivals; bleachers are subject to fees for the Eisa Festival.   
Venue: Okinawa City Koza Sports Park (near Gate 5 of Kadena AB) 
Address: 2-1-1 Moromizato, Okinawa city, Okinawa 904-0032; (GPS coordinates: N 26.332996, E 127.787724)
URL: zentoeisa.com/english-info.html; orionbeer.co.jp/en/place/beerfest.html