2020 - 34th Anniversary Japanese Cultural Fair - Santa Cruz (Sat) - Food Booths, Bon Odori, Art, etc..NEW

The Japanese Cultural Fair is a free event at Mission Plaza Park in Santa Cruz, and takes place this year on Saturday June 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The JCF, a non-profit all-volunteer organization, presents this seasonal slice of Japanese culture (this is the 34th year), and crowds are attracted up the hill from the Clock Tower by the pulsing sounds of Japanese festival drums.  Families gather on the Plaza green in the sunshine to enjoy exotic Japanese foods, arts and crafts, & center stage performances. Watsonville Taiko Drummers lead off the festival events.

Fair events also feature the quiet tones of the Koto ancient zither, shakuhachi flute, storytelling, Kyogen theatre, northern Japan shamisen, Bon odori and Okinawan dance. Food booths serve a wide variety of delicious traditional foods and drink; craft and art booths offer flute-making, sumie ink painting, haiku poetry, bonsai, paper art, jewelry and textiles, ceramics,  joinery & building, information on Japanese travel, language and culture.  The Kids’ Area has fun, hands-on activities. Nearby at Santa Cruz Zen Center, demonstrattions of tea ceremony, ikebana flower arranging, wearing of kimono, bonsai-- and martial arts at Aikido of Santa Cruz. These presentations continue throughout the day and there is something to enjoy for the whole family. The famous San Francisco Taiko drummers wind up the day’s events with a resounding performance.

Date
June 6, 2020

Time
This is a one-day, free event starting at 11:00 am and ending at 6:00 pm.

Location
Mission Plaza Park, 103 Emmett St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Access Information
Toyota of Santa Cruz will provide a free shuttle every 20 minutes or so from Santa Cruz County Building parking lot to the Fair-from 11am to 6pm (except for about 45 minutes from 1:30pm).

Public parking on downtown Santa Cruz streets and parking garages-a 3-5 minute walk from downtown to Mission Plaza Park-across the street from Holy Cross Church & the Santa Cruz Mission. People can also bike or rent Jump Bikes to the Park.

Designated bike parking will be available at thePark. No sidewalk bike parking. Kindly leave your dogs at home-SERVICE DOGS ONLY ON A LEASH in Park on day of the Fair.

Handicapped parking spaces will be available on Emmett Street.

SHUTTLE SERVICE TO AND FROM THE GOVERNMENT CENTER TO THE FAIR IS FREE !

Information
Executive Director Ms. Chieko Yoshikawa (831) 462-4589