Nihonmachi Street Fair: Celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on July 23, 2018

Time to add another event to your already bursting calendar of not-to-miss activities happening throughout the Bay Area this summer! Considered by many to be one of the first multicultural extravaganzas where numerous different heritages are celebrated, the Nihonmachi Street Fair is an event where many facets and qualities of several different backgrounds are celebrated, with the primary focus on the trifecta of Asian-Pacific American life.

Regardless of whether or not you identify as any of these, you are welcome (and highly encouraged) to join in the festivities as thousands of people gather in San Francisco’s historic Japantown. Japantown’s hub is located along Post Street, and the event will stretch a length of this street that runs from Laguna to Fillmore.

People of all ages (and their pets!) are welcome at this wondrous event which spans two full days, August 4th and 5th, and runs from 11:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening, giving you a full range of daylight with which to explore the street, listen to music, eat amazing food, and buy beautiful handcrafted goods.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Nihonmachi Street Fair, and all the stops will be pulled in order to ensure that this is a memorable time for all. Keeping your head on your shoulders might prove difficult as you wander through the street and find yourself trying to choose between live performances of theatrical pieces, live music, art, food carts, community programs and outreach initiatives, and other magical events.

As well as celebrate Asian-Pacific American Culture, the Nihonmachi Street Fair was also founded with the motivation to initiate a long-term program that would help provide mentorship to children and youths within the Asian-Pacific American community. In order to raise up the leaders of the future, the founders of the Nihonmachi Street Fair wanted to craft a space where these individuals could learn about community organizing and engagement as well as get some hands-on experience in these fields. Because the Nihonmachi Street Fair is entirely staffed and organized by volunteers, the young people in charge will have ample opportunity to begin the work that they will hopefully continue into the future.