Chiriku Hachimanguu Start of Summer Ceremony

• Details: Participants walk through a large grass hoop to purify themselves of everything bad from the first half of the year.
• When: August 8, 7:00 to 12:00
• Where: Chiguri Hachimanguu Shrine, Miyaki

48th Annual Saga Castle Town Sakae no Kuni Festival

• When: August 3 and 4, fireworks from 20:30 to 21:00 on August 3
• Where: Downtown Saga City

30th Annual Docchan Festival

• Details: A festival in which women carry and battle with mikoshi (portable shrines)
• When: August 4, 10:00 to 21:30
• Where: Downtown Imari

Arita Claspa! (Classical Music Performances and Workshops)

• When: Various times on August 9 and 10
• Where:  Honoo no Haka Kinendou Cultural Hall (majority of the event) and Mt. Izumi Porcelain Stone Quarry (final performance), Arita
• Cost: 5000 yen for one performance, 30,000 yen for a two day pass
• Check the website for detailed information

10th Annual Hangii (Barrel Boat) Festival

• Details: Participants compete in barrel boat races. Includes 4-person team races and solo races. Registration required by July 27. The day also features on-stage performances, a soumen speed-eating contest, Bonodori (dance for Obon), and fireworks.
• When: August 10, river games start at 12:00, performances, etc. start at 17:00
• Where: Joubaru River around Chiyoda-machi Welfare Center (千代田町福祉センター）, Kanzaki
• Website and Google Doc sign-up form

42nd Annual Ureshino Onsens Summer Festival and Fireworks

• When: August 11, 20:30 to 21:15
• Where: Miyuki Park General Use Plaza, Ureshino

45th Annual Yobuko Port Festival and Fireworks

• When: August 11, 20:20 to 21:00
• Where: The sea barriers in from of the Saga-Genkai Fisheries Association Yobuko Branch Office (佐賀玄海漁業協同組合呼子支所前防波堤), Karatsu

49th Annunal Shiota Summer Festival

• When: August 16, from 17:00, fireworks from 20:00 to 20:40
• Where: Shiota River area, Ureshino

Juuhachiya (The Evening of the 18th)

• Details: A local festival with a long tradition, featuring spinning fireworks.
• When: Evening of August 18
• Where: Ryuusenji Temple (龍泉寺), Arita

Ofudou-san Festival

• Details: According to legend, a giant snake terrorized the Kurokami area 800 years ago until killed by a hero. The Sword of Myoou and a tooth of a snake, both said to be part of this legend, are displayed to the public once every five years.
• When: August 23, 10:00 to 15:00
• Where: Daishouji Temple (大聖寺), Takeo

5th Annual Kashima Citizens Fireworks Festival

• When: August 24, 20:00 to 21:00
• Where: North Kashima Shingomori Beach, Kashima

Chinzei Town Summer Festival and Hadomisaki Fireworks

• When: August 24, 20:00 to 20:40
• Where: Hadomisaki Swimming area (波戸岬海水浴場), Karatsu

Arita Summer Festival and Fireworks

• When: August 25, 20:00 to 21:00
• Where: History and Culture Forest Park (歴史と文化の森公園), Arita

Imari Okawachiyama Windchime Festival 2019

• Details: Porcelain wind chimes will be hung up throughout the town, and various events are planned over the festival period
• When: Till August 31
• Where: Okawachiyama area, Imari

Saga Ginten Yoichi

• Details: Various events are planned for each Saturday
• When: Evenings, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3
• Where: Shirayama area, Saga City (Around Shoko Building)

Opening of Imarin’ Beach

• Details: The beach is open for use
• When: Till August 28
• Where: Imarin’ Beach, Imari

Takeo no Akari Meguri (Lights throughout town)

• When: Evenings till September 30
• Where: Mifuneyama Rakuen, Keishuuen, Yumeginga, Takeo City Library, Takeo Shrine, and Takeo Onsen, Takeo
• General information can be found here.

Karatsu Saturday Evening Market

• When: Evenings, July 20, 27, August 3, and 10
• Where: Central Shopping District, Karatsu

23rd Annual Kase River Dragon Boat Race

• Details: Contact Saga AJET if you would like to join the JET team. Balloon Saga Station is not running in the summer, so be sure to travel by car or taxi to the event site.
• When: August 25
• Where: Alongside Kase River (where the Balloon Fiesta is held), Saga City

A Forest Where God Lives — team Lab Projection Mapping at Mifuneyama

• When: Till November 4
• Where: Mifuneyama Rakuen, Takeo

Featured Image: Keishuuen during Takeo no Akari Meguri