What’s Cooking in Kadena? 🍠
Hold onto your hats—and maybe grab a shovel—because the 44th Noguni Sōkan Festival is hitting Kadena Town this October 5th and 6th. Why is this festival a big deal? Well, it celebrates the sweet potato, a staple that first landed right here in Kadena thanks to the adventurer Noguni Sōkan back in 1605. And yes, there will be plenty of sweet potatoes to go around!
A Sweet Potato-Filled Weekend 🎶🔥
Day 1: October 5, Saturday
The festival kicks off with the little ones stepping into the spotlight with a ‘Sweet Potato Song Contest’—it’s as adorable as it sounds. The tunes continue with performances by local favorites like Kariyushi 58 and DJ KEIN that’ll have you dancing beside the sweet potato stands.
Day 2: October 6, Sunday
The fun doesn’t stop as the second day features the Noguni Sōkan Parade and a series of traditional performances, including energetic Eisa dancing. Feeling active? Join in on the sweet potato digging contest and see if you can unearth the biggest spud!
Special Surprises 🎁
Everyone loves freebies, right? Fill out a survey on-site and snag some free Kandaba juice—a local treat not to be missed. Be quick though, it’s only for the first 200 folks each day post 4 PM. Time your visit, or you might just miss out!
The Grand Finale 💥
Both days wrap up with a bang—literally—with a dazzling fireworks display that lights up the Kadena sky. It’s the perfect end to a day of munching on sweet potatoes and grooving to some tunes.
Practical Info
Where? Kaneku Seaside Park, right in the heart of Kadena. [ Google Pin ]
No parking? No problem! Hop on the town’s shuttle bus or catch public transport to avoid the hassle.
Parking Spaces with Shuttle Service
- Parking Lot A: Kadena Field (Free)
- Parking Lot B: Kadena Sport Dome (Free)
- Parking Lot C: Kadena Michino Eki Parking Lot (Free)
- Parking Lot D: Kadena Police Office Parking Lot (Free)
- Parking Lot E: Kadena Town Hall Parking Lot (Free)
Shuttle Bus Times
- October 5: 1 PM to 9:30 PM
- October 6: 10 AM to 9:30 PM
Event Schedule
October 5th, Saturday
- 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Youth Baseball Tournament
- 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Tea Ceremony
- 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Nirai Fire Department Booth
- 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Noguni Sōkan and Sweet Potato Exhibition
- 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM / 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Noguni Sōkan Storytelling
- 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Noguni Sōkan Children’s Sumo Wrestling Dedication Tournament
- 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Working Vehicle Display
- 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Career Experience Activities
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Free Kandaba Juice Distribution
- 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Noguni Sweet Potato Digging Competition
- 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Sweet Potato Weighing Contest
October 6th, Sunday
- 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Youth Baseball Tournament
- 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Kick Scooter Competition
- 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM: Noguni Sōkan and Sweet Potato Exhibition
- 1:00 PM onwards: Sweet Potato Digging Competitions at various times until 5:00 PM
- 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Noguni Sōkan Sumo Wrestling Dedication Tournament
- 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM / 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Noguni Sōkan Storytelling
- 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Tea Ceremony
- 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Working Vehicle Display
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Free Kandaba Juice Distribution
- 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Sweet Potato Weighing Contest
- 6:30 PM – 8:45 PM: Kadena Kids Carnival
So, whether you’re there to chow down on sweet potatoes, get down to some live music, or just enjoy some good old-fashioned festival fun, the Noguni Sōkan Festival is the place to be. Pack your enthusiasm (and maybe a spade) and dive into the sweet potato madness!
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Disclaimer
⚠️Disclaimer: Our passion for supporting local businesses drives us to share information about events in the Okinawa area. Please note that Oki Social is not responsible for hosting this event. It’s important to be aware that the event’s host reserves the right to make changes or even cancel the event without prior notice. Some photos and videos may come from various sources on the internet, whether official or unofficial. It is possible that some photos and videos may have been taken from the same event in previous occurrences.
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