Note: Some of our members plan to car pool to this event on Sunday June 9th. If you'd like to join them check it out by clicking here.
WakamatsuFest150 is a celebration of 150 years of Japanese-American heritage, arts, and cuisine. The festival will feature Japanese and Japanese-American food, art, music, performances, demonstrations, discussions, competitions, and more. Booths will offer Asian and other foods, information, and merchandise. Entertainment will showcase traditional and modern Japanese-American culture. Docents will guide tours and tell stories about the first Japanese colonists who established their tea and silk farm on this Placerville property. Locals, farmers, historians, and naturalists will share knowledge and experience honoring the past, present, and future of Wakamatsu Farm and surrounding El Dorado County.
During each day of the festival, visitors will celebrate with performers, docents, speakers, demonstrators, vendors, and many others who are enjoying the legacy of the Japanese American experience for the past 150 years. Around mid-day each day, festival-goers will be treated to the world premiere live action play telling the Wakamatsu Colony story from Japan to America, 1869 to 1871.
Generally, each festival day centers on the following topics with some overlap each day:
Thursday, June 6 – Kids Explore Japanese Culture
Friday, June 7 – Japanese Tea and Tea Culture
Saturday, June 8 – THE BIG DAY* – Wakamatsu History
Sunday, June 9 – Wakamatsu Authors and Japanese American Farmers
Kids activities, tea, history, authors, food, and vendors will be available each festival day. For more information about the event Click Here.
Tickets (prices will increase in May)
Click here to purchase your WakamatsuFest150 tickets today.
Festival Dates: June 6, 7, 8, 9 of 2019
Festival Times: 10:00am to 4:00pm
VIP Event Time: Saturday, June 8 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Festival Theme: Celebrating 150 years of Japanese-American heritage, arts, and cuisine
One-Day Ticket Prices
$15 adults or $7 kids (6 to 16 yrs) – Thursday or Friday
$20 adults or $10 kids (6 to 16 yrs) – Saturday or Sunday
$40 after-hours VIP event – Saturday, June 8 only, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Festival Pass Prices
$30 adults or $15 kids for any two days
$60 adults or $25 kids for all four days
– All days are free for kids ages 5 and under.
– Online sales include optional ARC membership (additional cost).
– $5 discount for advance sales of festival passes only
Discount only for passes purchased online prior to festival (coupon code goldhillsamurai2019)
Booth Prices
$50 Thursday & Friday ($25 daily)
$100 Saturday & Sunday ($50 daily)
$140 all 4 days (select booths only)
Free for non-profit or information only (no sales)
Booths will be selected based on the festival theme.