2017 / Santa Rosa, Calif. to host annual Sonoma County Matsuri Festival, May 7

SANTA ROSA, CA – Matsuri! Japanese Arts Festival will return to Juilliard Park and the SOFA Arts District of downtown Santa Rosa on Sunday, May 7, from 11am to 5pm. Juilliard Park is located at 227 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404.

Celebrating its eighth year, Matsuri! has become one of the signature cultural festivals in the North Bay.

The event is organized by Sonoma County Matsuri, whose mission is to offer deep insights into Japanese culture by providing a forum for Bay Area artisans, artists, and performers of Japanese traditional arts to showcase their talents.

Performances and demonstrations at the admission-free Japanese festival will take place throughout the day in Juilliard Park and will feature taiko drumming, traditional dance and music, martial arts, Noh theater performance, tea ceremony, and more.

Back by popular demand, there will also be a children’s activity booth and mochitsuki—the pounding of sweet rice into cakes using a wooden mallet.

Complementing the festivities and performances will be a variety of exhibitors and vendors featuring Japanese arts, crafts, and food.

Matsuri! Japanese Arts Festival is partially funded through the City of Santa Rosa’s Community Promotions Funds. Additional sponsors include the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, Julia L. Grant Donor Advised Fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County, Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League, the Japan Foundation Los Angeles and many other supporters.

As a prelude to the festival, Sonoma County Matsuri will offer a special evening concert by Grand Master Riley Koho Lee and Elliot Kallen, highly acclaimed shakuhachi players, on Saturday, May 6, at 7pm.

Titled Bells Ringing in an Empty Sky: An Evening of Music for the Shakuhachi, the performance will be held at the Church of One Tree in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $15 advance sale and $20 at the door.

For more information about Matsuri! Japanese Arts Festival and the pre festival concert, please visit www.sonomamatsuri.com or www.facebook.com/sonomamatsuri/, or email info@sonomamatsuri.com.