Black Ships Sail Again: Long-sailing festival navigates to RI

The Black Ships have been a staple festival in Newport for as long as most can remember. This year, they’re celebrating both a proper return from COVID and their 40th anniversary by changing things up a bit.

The traditional recreated, historically accurate black ships will still be landing in Newport, but the shadows of their sails will be cast over other parts of the state as well, particularly in Bristol and Pawtucket, where a number of new activities will take place.

The Fest’s recently released poster by RI artist Jade Sisti captures the history of the event, but also the all-ages appeal of this year’s activities.

The “Black Ships” are what the medieval Japanese called the first European vessels to sail to their shores. Whether it was because of the black tar used to seal their hulls, or the black smoke billowing from their engines, the name symbolizes the cultural relations between East and West, and the festival, produced by the Japanese American Society of Rhode Island, celebrates that cultural handshake.

The ocean and the vessels that visit her are of great importance – to Japan, to Newport, to the whole Ocean State. This year, the fest kicks off on August 11 with a morning ceremonial commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa and an evening Taiko drum performance at Rockwell Park in Bristol. The festival concludes on August 13 with the 40th annual Commodore Matthew C. Perry Wreath Ceremony at Island Cemetery in Newport. In between, there are events around the state.

Everett Hoag, the new marketing director for the fest, is especially excited about the children’s events that will take place throughout the festival. “As a teaching artist, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to take educational elements and instill them in really fun activities that young participants can carry with them long after the festival,” he says.

Friday’s opening ceremonies will also feature Tall Ship rides with the chance to sip sake and savor sushi, and the 6:30 Taiko drum performance will feature traditional Japanese music and dance.

Saturday, August 12 delivers another highlight – The Cultural Marketplace Fair. A free, all-ages event, the Fair takes place at Independence Park in Bristol from 11am – 3:30pm and will include traditional Japanese arts and entertainment, martial arts including karate, judo, and kendo, ancient craft demonstrations, a variety of Eastern and Western food, shopping, games, origami (demonstrations and participatory), drumming, a kids’ cosplay contest, flower arranging, a traditional tea ceremony, a Kendama competition (that’s the hand-held paddle attached by string to a ball you try to keep bouncing), food trucks, and more. Saturday concludes with a Black Ships Gala in the evening (6:30 – 10pm) at Ochre Court, along the Newport Cliff Walk, where there will be music, performances, a sit-down dinner, and open bar.

So set sail with a few friends and cast your mind back to an era when civilizations were still discovering entire parts of the world. There’s still so much for us to discover about one another.   •

More event details at jasri.org.