2024 - 14th Annual Bon Odori Dance Festival for Peace - Kingston Point Beach, NYC (Be Part of a Step Toward a Peaceful Future-No Nuclear Weapons) NEW

We are going to celebrate our 13th annual Bon-odori Dance, Festival for Peace on Sunday.  Be part of a step toward a peaceful future-No nuclear weapons, power and radioactive environment. Commemorating the 78th of Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagaski, the 12 annimversary of Fukushima and the 37th anniversary of Chernobyl meltdown.  

About Obon Festival
“Obon” is a Japanese Buddhist tradition of remembering and reconnecting with ancestors, family and friends during the month of August.  “Bon-odori” is the dance event to get together with community members during the Obon period.

We invite you to the Bon-odori Dance Festival with the Kingston community by dancing along to a diverse gathering of drummers and musicians including Japanese Taiko with Burlington Taiko, Native American with Spirit of Thunderheart as well as Afro-American with Energy Dance, creating the beat of world peace. Dancing together provides an opportunity to unite and to set goals for a peaceful and healthy future for generations to come.  Festival goers will be able to learn about “Green” lifestyles, with alternative energy information and demonstrations, and conservation information. Kingston Point Beach is one of the most beautiful spots along the Hudson River, and is a perfect setting for this vibrant and joyful festival for peace.

Featured local artists are Betty and the Baby Boomers, Barely Lace, Energy Dance, Pushcart Kapele, Uptown Lodown and more. Barbara Bash and Asako Yamada will collaborate on large scale brush art.  The Minbuza Japanese Folk Dance Company and Taiko drummer Stuart Paton of Burlington Taiko will lead a Bon-Odori Loop Dance for everyone starting at 6 PM.

Food for Sale
There will be international foods for sale, along with flavored coffees and other refreshing drinks and sweets.

To conclude the festival, Buddhist monk Rev. Dr. Kenjitsu Nakagaki will conduct a special ritual of prayer for the victims of the radiation disasters of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukushima, Chernobyl and others across the world, followed by the lighting of luminaries along the shore.

Youko Yamamoto started this annual event as her personal reaction to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which damaged the nuclear reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on March 11, 2011.  After the Fukushima meltdown, Ms. Yamamoto felt it was important to raise awareness of the dangers of radiation by establishing this Hudson Valley festival. ”Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed 78 years ago, a long time ago.  Even though countless people suffered severely through generations, and the post war research made it very obvious that nuclear weapons should be prohibited, the nuclear war is still going on.  The energy production by nuclear fission is still a major resource of power.  War is not over, neither are radiation disasters.  Invisible radiation penetrates into our daily lives everywhere,” says Ms. Yamamoto. “Come discover what we can do as individuals to take steps toward a Nuclear-Free

Future”  The owner of Tanma! Ramen Tavern on Broadway in Kingston, Ms Yamamoto promotes the peace movement and Green power with the festival’s joyous music and dance. Together we will find our energy being renewed with the sharing of music, food and beautiful traditions.

Bring your chairs, parasols and willing heart.

Event Date
August 4, 2024, Sunday

Event Time
12:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Admission
Free - Rain or Shine

What is Bon Odori? 
Traditional, Fun and Community Awareness
The traditional Japanese Buddhist “Bon-odori” Dance Festival held in August is to observe "Obon", the ritual of remember-ing our ancestors and reconnecting with family and friends. Here in Kingston, we have expanded on this exciting summer event to celebrate our community by featuring clean energy, local businesses and farms, arts and culture and the spirit of healthy living to take steps toward a Nuclear-Free Future - "No Nuclear Power and Wars"

Dances, Music & Mart Arts
​Dance and music performances by Vanaver Caravan, The Spirit of Thunderheart and many local artists. Demonstrations by local martial arts such as Aikido, Judo, and Karate groups.

Taiko Drumming
Annual performance by the Taiko master, Stuart Paton with Burlington Taiko, VT. Stuart will lead the rhythm of Bon-odori dance. 

Food, Drinks & Local Vendors
Quality foods, drinks, and all great products and services provided by the local vendors including Japanese festival food. Family oriented,

Minuza Performance & Bon-Odori
Annual performance by Momo Suzuki, Kevin Mooney and Minbuza Japanese Folk Dance Company, NYC. Munbuza will lead "Bon-odori", everyone dance around together.

Japanese Culture & Peace Ceremony
Experience the traditional summer festival and take a step toward Nuclear Free-Future. 
Join our Peace Ceremony as the closing of the festival.  The Heart Sutura chanting will be lead by Buddhist monk Kenjitsu Nakagaki. 

Event Location
Kingston Point Beach NYC - New York, 53 Delaware Ave , Kingston, NY 12401

Event Title
Annual Bon Odori Dance Festival for Peace - Kingston Point Beach (Be Part of a Step Toward a Peaceful Future-No Nuclear Weapons) No Nukes, No War