Live performances, shopping, food and fun are the highlights of this annual event celebrating Japanese culture

Georgia’s close ties to Japan span decades. The State of Georgia opened its first international office in Tokyo in 1973 to promote trade and tourism. A year later, the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta was established. 

Now, Georgia and Japan share a sister state-prefecture relationship and 10 sister city connections. Georgia is also regarded as the center of Japanese business activities in the southeastern United States as over 600 Japanese-affiliated companies have invested over $10.4 billion. 

To celebrate this connection, JapanFest Weekend 2024 will be held on September 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and September 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gas South Convention Center. 

Organized by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia and The Japan-America Society of Georgia, the festival is designed to promote friendship and cultural exchange between the Japanese and American communities in the Southeast.

Live performances

JapanFest 2024 will feature a lineup of performers coming from Japan. Miyabiya Japan is set to showcase the mesmerizing blend of traditional and modernized Kabuki theatre, a performing art proclaimed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Broadway performer and Rakugo master storyteller, hailed as the “King of Kimono Comedy,” Katsura Sunshine, will bring the laughs, as well as a captivating rendition of classic Japanese tales.

There will also be performances by the Matsuriza Taiko Japanese Drum Troupe and Samurai Sword Soul, as well as sumo, karate, kendo and kyudo martial arts demonstrations. 

Food, fun and arts & crafts

On top of that, local Japanese restaurants will offer a tantalizing menu of bento boxes, rice bowls, ramen noodles, sushi, yakisoba, shaved ice and more at the Japanese Food Court and Beer Garden. Cultural exhibits and workshops include calligraphy, Bonsai, Ikebana flower arranging, Kimono fitting, origami, a tea ceremony and more.  

Kids will have a fantastic time experiencing Japanese culture firsthand. At the festival’s Children’s Area, they can make their own Japanese crafts and toys. They can even take part in carrying a traditional Japanese portable shrine at the o-mikoshi parade. 

Visitors can also purchase an amazing array of Japanese goods, including kimono, Japanese tea, dolls, hand-made crafts, anime and manga goods and much from over 100 vendor booths. 

Many of the over 600 Japanese-affiliated companies based in Georgia will display their products at the Japanese Businesses in Georgia (JBiG) exhibition. Interactive exhibits also include the latest in Japanese technology, including automobiles, tractors, electronics, video games and virtual reality.

The details

Join over 20,000 visitors at this year’s JapanFest.

• Advanced Tickets: $16 (available until September 20th)
• Tickets at the Door: $20
• Family & Friends Package: $70 for 4 tickets or $90 for 5 tickets (available at the door)
• Children aged 6 and under: FREE

Military personnel and seniors can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $16 at the door. 

Group tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations looking to support the festival and gain a larger presence in the Japanese American community.   

JapanFest would not be possible without the help of over 150 volunteers. To fill out a volunteer application, please visit japanfest.org/participate and click on “Volunteer.”
For more information, call 404-522-6938 or email: lendon@japanfest.org.

The 11th annual race at The Forum attracts largest crowd in history

On August 10, over 1,700 people gathered at The Forum in Peachtree Corners for the 11th annual Light Up the Corners Glow Run and Twilight Trot benefiting the Fowler Family YMCA. This year’s event welcomed a record-breaking crowd of participants, sponsors and spectators and raised over $50,000 for the YMCA’s Why It Matters campaign.

“To witness over 1,600 glowing-flashing-sparkling runners and walkers was a thrill from start to finish,” said Light Up the Corners founder, Amy Massey. “But knowing this wonderful event enriches the lives of so many people in our community through the programs and services offered by the YMCA made it even better.”

The Forum showcased their new grand plaza and expanded gathering areas during the race, providing a perfect setting for this much-loved Peachtree Corners tradition.  

Roaming, glowing performers, a live DJ, games, Disney and Star Wars characters and face-painting made it an exciting, fun and family-friendly event.

North American Properties event coordinator, Charlotte Hinton added, “We’ve been blown away by the immense community support and feedback The Forum has received over the past two years, and we are proud The Forum continues serving as Peachtree Corners’ favorite spot to gather.”

This Year’s Top Three Male and Female Finishers:

1st Place:      Quinn Skurpski and Jenny Turner

2nd Place:     Jackson Luskin and Jenn Frost

3rd Place:      Paul Salah and Stephanie Cere

This Year’s Top Masters Finishers:

Jonathan Macdonald and Alicia Treadway

To learn more about Light Up the Corners, visit lightupthecorners.com.

For more about The Forum, visit theforumpeachtree.com

The Peachtree Corners Festival, a beloved local event that brings together residents and visitors for a weekend of community spirit, entertainment and good vibes, is back for its 13th year.

Located in and around Town Center, the Peachtree Corners Festival will be hosted on September 21 through 22, with times on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Dave Huffman, Peachtree Corners Festival President, has been heavily involved in the festival for over a decade and got his start thanks to the late Debbie Mason, co-founder of the festival and wife to city mayor Mike Mason.

“Debbie Mason asked me to join the committee in 2013 when the festival was in its third year. I helped put our signs out and did whatever needed to be done,” Huffman told Peachtree Corners Magazine. “I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of what it took to put on a large event for our community. The next year, I became president of the committee and have served in that role since that time.  

Last year, the festival included a special dedication to Debbie Mason, whose contributions to the event and the community were immense. While there won’t be a formal ceremony this year, Huffman shared exciting plans for a lasting tribute. 

“We do have a long-term honor in her name coming this fall. I am on an ad-hoc committee composed of friends of Debbie, and we have been working on plans for a special garden in her honor which will be located in the new Peachtree Corners botanical garden on the south side of the Town Center property,” he said. 

The ribbon-cutting for the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden is scheduled for October 26.

“It will be a very special tribute to this lady who gave so much of herself to our city,” he stated.

A different kind of festival

First and foremost, the Peachtree Corners Festival is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization dedicated to putting on a safe and wholesome family-friendly event. The festival also has a positive cash flow, and funds support the education and beautification of the city. The best part? It is completely free to attend.

The Peachtree Corners Festival also stands out for its local pride while also attracting attendees from surrounding areas. 

“I think that our residents like to have a festival to call their own, although we do get many attendees from surrounding cities and communities outside of Peachtree Corners,” Huffman explained.

“It is fun to come out and see what kinds of crafts there for sale are, eat some food that you might not normally get a chance to sample, see some exotic cars and listen to music while doing all of these things in a convenient location. Hopefully, we have gained a reputation for being well-organized and enjoyable,” he added.

Fun for all ages
The Kid’s Corner at the Peachtree Corners Festival is always a hit with families, and this year promises to be no different. 

In May, the city unveiled new tot lot playgrounds for children under six years old that are themed around space exploration. The play area includes a rocket ship, a moon rover, a crashed UFO and other fun designs.

“Our tennis and pickleball nets for kids will be located there and Deborah Mosher, aka The Bubble Lady, will return with super-sized bubbles. There will also be kid-friendly vendors located around the periphery of the Green, including walking pet balloons, face painting, balloon twistin’ and a build-a-bear station,” said Huffman.  

“Sweetacular Treats will return in case any kid (or adult) needs some sweets to keep that energy up!” he added.

Festival favorites
The classic car show is back again at the Peachtree Corners Festival. And this year, a special guest will be in attendance.

“The Classic Car Show is one of the aspects of our festival that sets us apart from other local craft festivals and is an attendee favorite each year. Our car show guru, Mike Thies, has been working with the Georgia Street Rod Association (GSRA) to exhibit cars at our show this year, so we are all looking forward to that.”

Trained judges will be on-site giving out awards for top car, top bike and top class on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Collector Car Hobby Celebration will take place on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. with Sam Madahvi of Sam’s Garage TV show serving as grand marshall.

It costs $25 to enter your ride for consideration and includes a one-year full membership to the GSRA.

And while folks are admiring the cars in that area, across the way is another favorite attraction returning this year.

Get an up close and personal look at a surgical robot! Intuitive, the maker of the da Vinci robotic surgical system, calls Peachtree Corners the home of its east coast global hub and will have its All-Mobile Experience at the 13th Annual Peachtree Corners Festival.

An 18-wheel, 80,000-pound truck holding a roving laboratory, fully equipped with a mock operating room will give festivalgoers a chance to see and learn about robotic-assisted surgery.

The Peachtree Corners Festival is also known for having quality musical acts on the Town Green stage.

“We will continue that tradition with excellent bands and local youth ensembles who will show off their skills,” stated Huffman. 

The exact lineup is still in work as of the time of this publication.

The food scene
There will be many scrumptious treats for attendees to look forward to this year with more food vendors and food trucks on-site.

Tasty Yum Yum will be back serving delicious bites like jerk chicken, bang bang shrimp, Philly cheese steaks, funnel cakes and fried Oreos.

Sweetacular Treats is returning for the third consecutive year and will be set up near the Tot Lot playground with a large variety of sweets, cotton candy, popcorn and candy apples.

There will also be several new food trucks in the lineup including:

Urban Wings: Known for its delectable wings and a wide variety of sauces, Urban Wings also offers friendly Vegan wing options as well as sides, desserts, locally crafted beers and gourmet lemonades.

Pico’s Hot Dogs: Along with more traditional hotdogs, you can discover new favorites, like a specialty dog wrapped in crispy bacon, and topped with the zesty flavors of pico de gallo.

Egg Roll Boyz: Inspired by travels across the globe, Egg Roll Boyz serves over 20 different giant gourmet “eggrollz” bursting with unique and sometimes exotic flavors.

Tacos El Kohuich: Specializing in authentic street food tacos, Tacos El Kohuich aims to expand the horizons of every customer by sharing many Nayarit dishes and beverages not often found in the area.

And for some special desserts at the end of the evening, check out Double E Sweets’ frozen chocolate-dipped cheesecake.

Vendor mania
The festival’s vendor lineup features a mix of new and returning favorites, offering a wide array of arts, homemade goods and crafts.

“Although much of this year’s festival will look familiar, about half of our arts and crafts vendors are new to us and are exhibiting in Peachtree Corners for the first time,” said Huffman. “We will be presenting over 60 arts and crafts vendors lining both sides of Peachtree Corners Circle from the roundabout down to DaVinci Court.”

Some of the vendors include:

(New) Bae N Bunnies: This local small business specializes in highly detailed crochet animals, toys and decor. Find everything from crocheted unicorns, turtles, dragons, dreamcatchers and much more. Find Bae N Bunnies at tiktok.com/@baenbunnie.

(New) Miller Made Woodworking: Explore custom fine furniture and woodworking straight from the North Georgia Mountains. All products are handcrafted in Dahlonega, Ga., by owner and operator Trevor Miller, meaning everything is made by hand and made in the USA. Miller MadeWoodworking is passionate about high-quality work and treating customers with care and respect. That means no shortcuts in craftsmanship. Learn more at millermadeww.com.

(New) Home Fields: Looking for the latest and greatest sports accessories? A Home Fields replica stadium is the perfect gift for your favorite (or inner) sports fan. Choose a modern stadium or a favorite of years past. The layered design, combined with the glow of LED lights creates an awesome 3D effect, yet they’re small enough to fit on your shelf, mantle or bookcase. Get a sneak peek at homefields.com.

(New) Built By Bees: Founded by Tim Haratine in 2015, Built by Bees is a gourmet honey company whose products include raw, infused and whipped honeys, honey butters, honey shrubs, honey vinegars, honey elixirs, well-being honeys and honey mustards. The majority of the products use organic or kosher ingredients that are non-GMO. They’re also free from additives, preservatives, sulfites and raw sugars. Learn more at builtbybees.com.

(New) Bethany Plonski Photography: Bethany Plonski is a nature photographer who loves it all, from birds to botanicals and intimate landscapes. For Bethany, photography is as much about connecting with the natural world as it is about the images themselves. She then uses her photos to create photo art products and gift items such as notebooks and greeting cards, coasters, magnets and jigsaw puzzles. Find out more about her process at bethanyplonski.com.

(New) Forever Bows Boutique: This business makes bright, fun and colorful hair accessories, legwarmers, tutus, customer shoes, hats and diaper covers. Find them at instagram.com/foreverbowsboutique.

(New) Jen Schwartz Pottery: Jen Schwartz’s handmade pottery is thrown on the wheel and built from scratch the whole way through. Jen’s expertly crafted mugs, dishes, vases, bowls, platters and planters come in many different themes as well. Check out Jen’s colorful textures and patterns at jenschwartzpottery.com.

(New) Portabakes Cakes and Confections:  Located in Decatur Ga., Portabakes is a small but expanding homegrown business that provides a variety of cakes and pastries including American delights like bundt cake, brownies, snickerdoodles, and bourbon bread pudding. Portabakes makes sure every creation is made from the freshest wholesome products to elevate your special occasion. See the full menu at portabakes.com.

(New) The Raffia Boutique: A local Georgia brand that specializes in wide-brim hats, handbags and other fashion accessories crafted by hand by master artisans on the island of Madagascar. Browse their designs at facebook.com/theraffiaboutique.

(New) Whatnot Bear Mobile: This family-owned and operated business is on a mission to support children while making them smile with a mobile Build-a-Bear party setup. Learn more atwhatnotbearmobile.com.

Bare Naked Farm Goods: Prioritizing nourishing ingredients, Bare Naked Farm Goods offers soaps, lotions and body scrubs that are 100% all-natural, using goat’s milk and essential oils. See the latest scents at barenakedfarmgoods.com.

(New) Brown Girl Mixers: Discover handcrafted syrups, shrubs and bitters, designed to elevate cocktails, mocktails, water, tea and more. Brown Girl Mixers prides itself on using no extracts, added juices or purees, ensuring that every drink is delicious and beneficial for your health. Explore their products at browngirlmixers.com.

(Returning) Cosa Linda Pottery: Meaning “pretty thing” in Spanish, Cosa Linda pottery features hand-built and wheel-thrown, ceramic items for home and garden use. Check the beautiful and unique artistic forms from Cosa Linda at facebook.com/cosalindapottery.

(Returning) My Little World: Located in Duluth, My Little World Plant & Flowers is a family-owned business that sells live plants, colorful flowers and do-it-yourself custom terrarium kits. Stretch out your green thumb with new plants like string of pearls, succulents, string of hearts, and burrow’s tail. More information can be found at mylittleworldplantsflowers.com.

(Returning) Piece Love Soul: Owner Joy Woodson is a journalist by trade but in 2021, reeling from the pandemic and social unrest, she turned to puzzles. Piece Love Soul’s mission is to create puzzles that illustrate and celebrate unity, compassion and cultural diversity while amplifying women artists of color. Check out the business at piecelovesoul.com.

All in all, this year’s Peachtree Corners Festival is shaping up to be the best one yet. We hope to see you and your families there!