46th Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair
The Nihonmachi Street Fair considers itself the original “melting pot” of street fairs, with many aspects of Asian-Pacific American life—and San Francisco’s cultural life—expressed through performance, tradition, art, music, food, and community outreach and service.
Over 30,000 festival attendees have made their way to the fair in past years.
2019 Nihonmachi Street Fair
Saturday & Sunday, August 3-4, 2019 | 11 am to 6 pm
Japantown, San Francisco
FREE, but donations are gratefully accepted
This year’s fair will be held on the weekend of August 3 & 4 from 11 am – 6 pm in San Francisco’s Japantown (on Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets).
Bring the entire family, even your fur baby, for 2 full days of activities, performances and just good fun.
Event Highlights:
- Art & Soul of Jtown (Saturday, August 3)
The Art & Soul of J-town is a new feature of the Nihonmachi Street Fair (NSF). Their hope is to bring together and showcase the many Asian artists in diverse APA communities. It is also an opportunity for the communities to bring voices and creativity together. For the 46th Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair the Art & Soul of Jtown will celebrate unity in diversity through spoken word, poetry and art.
- Doggie World (Sunday, August 4 | 11 am – 5 pm | Parade & Pageant begins at 1 pm)
At this year’s 46th Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair’s Doggie World, the Buchanan Mall will again be a special gathering place for the four-legged members of the community to join in on the fun. Local animal experts, adoption agencies and vet professionals will also be on hand to offer tips and information. Highlights at this year’s Doggie World: pet vendors, rescues and adoptions, Ask the Dogtor, a parade, wag bag giveaways, contests, pet portraits and a photo booth.
- Asian Artisans
The Asian Artisan area of the Nihonmachi Street Fair has welcomed a wide variety of artistic talent from all over the Bay Area and beyond. Many of their artisans like Waka Ozawa, Pomegranate Designs, Kayoko Designs, Creative Accents and Fabrications have been participating at the Nihonmachi Street Fair for over 25 years. You’ll find a great selection of hand made crafts all created with an artistic eye. It’s a great opportunity to meet the artists and ask questions about their craft.
- Asian American Adult CoEd Basketball Tournament
The Nihonmachi Street Fair is proud to present the 6th Annual Asian American Adult Invitational Co-Ed Basketball Tournament during the Fair weekend at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. Basketball has always brought the communities together through Asian American leagues throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Teamwork and camaraderie mixed in with good spirited competition is the main goal of these games.
Games will be held on Saturday, August 3 from 9 am – 6 pm and on Sunday, August 4 from 10 am – 1 pm.
- Children’s World
Children’s World provides families to engage their little ones in Asian inspired crafts and test their skills in fun games. It’s also a great way to introduce children to this important community event and encourage them to come back to volunteer when they get older.
- Food Fest
It’s a place where you’ll find comfort food that you have grown up eating and is an important part of the diverse culture. At the Nihonmachi Street Fair Food Fest nonprofit organizations participate to raise funds for their programs and services, while for profit businesses take part to support the Nihonmachi Street Fair and bring a unique spin on the foods you love.
- Sounds of Thunder
The streets of Japantown will not only be filled with fair attendees, participants, conversations, the smell of great food and music to soothe your souls, you’ll be able to see close-up fabulous muscle cars from back in the day. Approximately 10 – 15 cars will be showcased on both days.
