MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Misawa city officials are expecting more than 80,000 people to attend an annual four-day summer festival from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.

The parade route snakes through the downtown district, and passed the American Park – in front of Misawa Air Base – on what’s commonly referred to as “White Pole Road.”

Events include:

Thursday - Parade floats are on display at the Miss Veedol Dome at 5 p.m. A drum and flute competition follows at 6 p.m.

Friday - The floats will be paraded through downtown Misawa from 4 p.m to 7:20 p.m.

Saturday – Traditional Japanese arts on display in American Park beginning at 1 p.m. A costume parade begins at 3 p.m., followed by a dance parade at 4:30 p.m. Portable shrines – called mikoshi – will be hand-carried on the route beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday – A repeat of Friday’s parade begins at 1:30 p.m.

Base officials are closing the front gate from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

From staff reports

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