Black Ships Dock in Newport This Weekend

Newport is taking on an Oriental air this weekend, as the 30th Annual Black Ships Festival continues.

A commemoration of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's voyage to Japan in 1854 that paved the way for a re-opening of the nation to the West, the Black Ships Festival includes exhibits, sailing, workshops, and the ever-popular Taiko drummers.

For online tickets and more information, click here.

Here's the run-down of events for Friday through Sunday, July 19 to 21:

Friday, July 19:

• 1 to 7 p.m.: Japanese Kimono Exhibit, 223 Goddard Row [Brick Market Place]. Featuring Kimono artist Hiroko Ichie. Call (401) 808.0162 for info.
• 3 to 5 p.m.: Sushi Sake Sail leaving from Goat Island Marina. Take a leisurely cruise around Newport Harbor and sample sushi and sake. Limited to 68. Tickets $35. Order tickets online here.
• By Appointment: Experience Dressing and Wearing Japanese Yukata at 223 Goddard Row.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Touro Park hosts various arts and crafts demonstrations and exhibits:

• Lost Sword Techniques of the Sengoku Jidai at 10 a.m.
• Workshop on the Samurai Sword, 10:15 a.m.
• Kite-Making Workshop, 10:30 a.m.
• Make a Den-Den Daiko (Drum), for Children ages 7-12, 11 a.m.
• Ninja Demonstration, 11 a.m.
• Feng Shui with Stephen Devine, 11:15 a.m.
• Anime & Manga Demonstration, 11:15 a.m.
• Arresting techniques of the Samurai, 11:30 a.m.
• Sushi Making Demonstration by Haruki of Cranston at noon.
• Calligraphy Demonstration at noon.
• Aikido and Iaido Demonstration, noon to 2 p.m.
• Sumi-e Demonstration from noon to 1 p.m.
• Shorin-Ryu Demonstration, 1 to 2 p.m.
• Origami Flowers at 12:30 p.m.
• Sidearm of the Samurai, Tantō and Wakizashi, 12:30 p.m.
• Iaijutsu & Tameshigiri Enbu [sword drawing and cutting forms], 1 p.m.
• Ninja Demonstration, 2 p.m.
• Tea Ceremony, 2 p.m.
• Stick fighting of the Samurai, 2 p.m.
• Koto and Shamisen player Ms. Sumie Kaneko, 2:30 p.m.
• Basic techniques of the Ken [samurai sword handling], 2:45 p.m.
• Mindful Origami, 2:45 p.m.
• Amerikick Martial Arts, 3 p.m.

• Noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m.: Taiko Drum Prelude at Long Wharf Mall.
• 3:30 p.m.: Ninja Demonstration at Long Wharf Mall.
• 6:30 p.m.: Black Ships Gala, Marble House on Bellevue Avenue. $150 per person. Order tickets online here.
  

• 9:30 a.m.: Memorial ceremony at Commodor Perry's tomb on Farewell Street.
• 10 a.m.: Japanese Kimono Exhibit, 223 Goddard Row [Brick Market Place]. Featuring Kimono artist Hiroko Ichie.
• By Appointment: Experience Dressing and Wearing Japanese Yukata at 223 Goddard Row.
• 12 p.m.: Taiko Drum Concert. Tickets $8 Adult/$4 Child. Order tickets online here.
• 12:30 p.m.: Japanese Fine Kimono Presentation and Fashion Show at the Main Atrium of the Gateway Center.
• 2 p.m.: Sushi Sake Sail II sailing from Goat Island. $35 per person in advance and $40 day of the event. Order tickets online here.