Japan-America Friendship Festival Returns to Newport, Rhode Island, October 17

Article

A small Rhode Island city has a surprisingly deep connection to Japan — and it's celebrating that connection again this October.

Date, Time, Place

The second Japan-America Friendship Festival takes place Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Touro Park in Newport, Rhode Island. Admission is free, and the event runs rain or shine.

What to Expect

The program includes taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, Japanese food vendors, and a family cosplay costume contest.

A Sister-City Story, and a New History Tent

The festival is built around Newport's sister-city relationship with Shimoda, Japan, produced by the Japan-America Society of Southern New England alongside the city and the Newport-Shimoda Sister City Commission. New this year is a history tent covering the two cities' shared past, plus calligraphy, origami, kimono photo stations, children's crafts, and artisan vendor booths.

Ask Marine

Want to know more about the Newport-Shimoda sister-city connection, or what to expect at the festival? Ask Marine.

What To Know

It's a rare chance for Japanese culture fans on the US East Coast to experience taiko, martial arts, and Japanese food in one free, family-friendly day, without needing to travel to a major city.

Newport's sister-city tie to Shimoda traces back to Commodore Matthew Perry, whose 1854 treaty negotiations with Japan included Shimoda as one of the first ports opened to US ships — a historical link the festival's new history tent is built around.

Easy Japanese

10月17日、アメリカのニューポートで「日米友好フェスティバル」が開かれます。太鼓や日本食が楽しめます。入場は無料です。