Black Ships Festival Only Days Away!!!

We are only three days away from the Opening Ceremony for the Black Ships Festival which will happen at 10am in Rockwell Park in Bristol, RI. We have a great line-up of VIP speakers and singers for the national anthems of the USA and Japan!

Friday night is the FREE Taiko Performance also in Rockwell Park in Bristol starting at 6:30pm. Right now, it looks like we will have great weather for the event!

We were sorry to cancel the Sushi Sake Sails this year due to the accident with Schooner Aurora and hope to offer those wonderful events in next year's Black Ships Festival.

The Cultural Marketplace Fair is Saturday from 11am to 3:30pm. Come out for the Food Trucks, Food Booths, a great selection of vendors, community booths, Japanese crafts, and a Dragon Boat. We will have performances by Odaiko New England 大太鼓ニューイングランド (Taiko), Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo 居合剣法 (Japanese Swordsmanship), Sumie Kaneko (Koto-Japanese stringed instrument), Dance by Classical High School Dance Group “OKAZE”, J Pop by Izumi, Tanko Bushi / Kurofune Bushi 炭坑節／黒船節 (Japanese Folk Dance), and Navy Band Northeast. We will also have a Cosplay Contest for 17 and Under.

Saturday night is the Black Ships Gala at Ochre Court in Newport from 6:30pm to 10:30pm.

Sunday morning will be the final event of the Black Ships Festival. We will hold a Memorial Ceremony at Commodore Perry's family plot at Island Cemetery in Newport at 9:30am. The event will include the Naval War College Color Guard, a bugler from Navy Band Northeast, and wreath-laying by American and Japanese dignitaries.