Come celebrate the 34th Annual Newport Black Ships Festival of Japanese art and culture! July 13th through the 16th, 2017 in Newport, Rhode Island!
Newport’s Black Ships Festival is an annual celebration of the long and friendly trading partnership between the United States and Japan. The festival is named in reference to the Japanese word for foreign ships, “Kurofune,” which translates to “Black Ships” in English.
The event commemorates the historic Treaty of Kanagawa, negotiated by Commodore Matthew Perry, that opened trade with Japan in 1854. Black Ships is also a celebration of the friendly relationship between Newport and her Japanese Sister City, Shimoda.
The annual Black Ships Festival has been a Newport tradition since 1983. The popular, multi-day celebration offers a variety of fun and fascinating events emphasizing Japanese art and culture. Highlights include a formal Gala at Rosecliff, sake tastings, martial arts and craft demonstrations, and the always exhilarating Taiko Drums.
2017 Newport Black Ships Festival Calendar of Events
Thursday, July 13th-
Gekkeikan Sake Tasting – 6:30pm-8pm
Friday July 14th-
Festival Opening Ceremonies – 10:30am
Sushi Sake Sail I – 3pm–5pm
Newport Community Band (Not Yet Confirmed) – 6:30pm
Saturday, July 15th-
Arts & Crafts Fair Touro Park – 10am-4pm
Lost Sword Techniques of the Sengoku Jidai – 10am
Arts and Crafts Tent – 10am 12pm
Japanese Arts and Crafts – 10am-2pm
An Introduction Workshop on the Samurai Sword – 10:15am-11am
Celebrate The Summer Like They Do In Japan – 11am-3:30pm
Feng Shui with Stephen Devine – 11:15am
Arresting Techniques of the Samurai – 11:30am
Sushi Making Demonstration – 12pm
Calligraphy Demonstration – 12pm-1pm
Amerikick Martial Arts – 12pm
Iaijutsu & Tameshigiri Enbu – 12:45pm
Bonsai Demonstration – 12:45pm-1:30pm
Stimulating your Mind & Body with Okinawa Karate – 1:15pm
Tea Ceremony – 1:30pm
Stick fighting of the Samurai – 2pm
Feng Shui with Stephen Devine – 2:15pm
SHORIN-RYU Demonstration by Okinawan Temple and Al Gagne – 2:30pm
Taiko Drum Prelude – 1pm, 2pm, & 3pm
Black Ships Festival Gala at Rosecliff – 6:30pm
Touro Park On-Going Activities & Displays
Calligraphy by Kaji Aso Studio
Haruki Japanese Restaurant
Hiroko Shikashio Artworks; Watercolor, Collages and photographs
IACE Travel Boston
Shiatsu, Reiki, Sotai and reflexology
Japanese healing and relaxation techniques from Inner Wisdom
SHORIN-RYU Karate from Okinawan, Japan
New England Bonsai Gardens
Sunday, July 16th-
Memorial Ceremonies – 9:30am
Taiko Drum Concert – 12pm
Sushi Sake Sail II – 2pm– 4pm
Newport Black Ships Festival
July 13th through the 16th, 2017 | Newport, R.I.
Read more about the Newport Black Ships Festival at the festival website.
Newport Black Ships Festival Lodging
Make the most of your Newport getaway with a stay at a Newport County Inn and Bed & Breakfast! Newport bed and breakfast inns offer the kind of hospitality, service, and comfort that’ll make you hesitant to leave and eager to return. Choose from among the many locally owned and operated Newport B&B’s and let us help make your visit one of your best getaways ever.