Bange Autumn Festival

About this event

Held in Aizubange Town, the "Bange Autumn Festival" is the annual grand festival of Suwa Shrine and a traditional ritual celebrating the crop harvest. Continuing since the Taisho era, the highlight of this festival is the parade of elaborately decorated costume floats and taiko drum platforms crafted by each neighborhood cruising along the main street. On the Eve Festival (Saturday), a lantern procession and illuminated costume float runs take place, further enlivening the festival atmosphere. During the Main Festival (Sunday), a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession and a children's procession (chigo gyoretsu) are held to purify the town with the deity. Furthermore, in the costume float contest involving 15 neighborhoods, masterpieces created collaboratively by local townspeople are showcased and judged in competition. Since 2004 (Heisei 16), it has been held annually on the third Saturday and Sunday of September, captivating many people as a vibrant festival rooted in the community. Stalls also line the area to delight visitors.

Venue

Aizubange Town

Aizubange, Kawanuma District, Fukushima