Okutsugaru Mushi to Hi Matsuri 2017

Okutsugaru Mushi to Hi Matsuri (Insect & Fire Festival)
奥津軽虫と火まつり
Official Website (Japanese): http://goshogawarajc.com/matsuri/

This is a festival to ward off insects that harm the rice fields. It originated from "mushi okuri"(literally "sending off (driving away) insects"). Large "insects" with wooden heads and straw bodies were paraded down the street and then hung up at the entry points to the village to ward off insects. From 1983, the city decided to combine the mushi okuri festival with "fire"--another powerful symbol for warding off bad things--to give birth to the Mushi to Hi Matsuri.

Date: Saturday, June 17, 2017
Time: 18:00-21:00
Location:Goshogawara City Hokuto Ground 五所川原市北斗グラウンド (map)
Parade Route & Road Closure Map
(Blue = Parade Route; Red = Road Closures)

Admission: Free
Events/Attractions:

• 9:00-18:00 "Mushi Okuri" Float Displays
  (In front of Goshogawara Station (map) & Tachineputa No Yakata (Tachineputa Museum) (map))
• "Mushi Okuri" Float Parade
• Bonfires
• & More!

Goshogawara City Hokuto Ground 五所川原市 北斗グラウンド


More Information:
Official Website (Japanese): http://goshogawarajc.com/matsuri/
Okutsugaru Sightseeing Website, "The festival 'Mushito Himatsuri'" (English): http://www.okutsugaru.com/e/shichoubetu/goshogawara/mushitohimatsuri.html