An one-night-only event that was held once a year in Mizushima has returned after three years.
Sitting on sofas placed in the park, guests can enjoy live performances while sipping cocktails and tasting delicious snacks.
This deep event, "Mizushima Evening Garden," was held every year before the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
- This year, we want to hold it.
- I hope many people visit Mizushima and enjoy it.
Thanks to the wishes of the organizers, the event was realized after three years.
This event was created by passionate people gathered in Mizushima.
Curious about the atmosphere, I decided to visit the event.
What is "Mizushima Evening Garden"
The "Mizushima Evening Garden" was held on October 8, 2022.
It is organized by the Mizushima Shopping Street Promotion Association.
Among them, the "Mizushima Promotion Team," formed to liven up the Mizushima area, is mainly responsible for the operation.
One of their focuses is the participating shops. Most of them are "long-established shops" in Mizushima.
▼ The participating shops are as follows.
- BAR TAKEMOTO
- Andante
- COCKTAIL LOUNGE Kibi
- Coffee Bean Specialty Store Okabe
- T’s CLOVER
- Mil Crown
- Mizushima Hormone
- Shochu Bar 69’s-Rocs-
- À la Maison (Pasta)
- Handmade Goods Lafool
In addition, there are 18 shops offering Taiwanese food, fried chicken, oden, and more, perfect for dinner or takeout, lined up around the venue at Mizushima Nishi Tokiwacho 2nd Park.
Although it is an evening event, it starts at 3 PM
I live in Mizushima, but this is my first time attending this event.
I thought it might be difficult to go out at night with small children, but since the event starts at 3 PM, I decided to go early.
I parked at Mizushima Higashi Tokiwacho 1st Park, which was specially opened for this event.
The venue, Mizushima Nishi Tokiwacho 2nd Park, was freshly mowed by the staff a week prior, so the ground was soft with grass.
Benches and sofas were spaced out within the park, making it a comfortable place to relax.
On stage, they were rehearsing for the live performance, and I could see the sound checks taking place.
The live performances will start at 4:30 PM, featuring various artists from Okayama Prefecture and beyond, performing in order.
Since I had been going to fewer live events recently due to the pandemic, I was excited to hear singing and performances live.
With still some time before the stage starts, I decided to check out the various shops that were participating.
T’s CLOVER
I stopped by "T’s CLOVER" located near the park entrance.
This popular shop is often seen at events. It specializes in tea and scones.
Although the shop is located in Mizushima, it currently only offers reservation-based sales.
As a tea specialty shop, they recommended scones made with tea.
There are also varieties with fruits, nuts, and vegetables mixed in, making it hard to choose from the wide selection.
Products are available for individual sale, starting from one piece.
They say they taste great even when frozen, making them perfect souvenirs for family and friends.
I took my time selecting my favorite scone and bought some to take home as souvenirs for my family.
Café & Cake "Mil Crown"
Next, I visited the café and cake shop "Mil Crown."
This shop sells cakes in Mizushima.
It also has a café, so you can have lunch at the shop, but it is rarely seen at events.
On this day, they were selling croissants, canelés, cakes, and puddings.
When I asked for recommendations, they suggested the "pear tart." I tried a sample.
The pear was generously placed on top, making it very filling. The crust was crispy, and it brought happiness to my mouth.
Customers were coming in one after another from early on, so it seemed like they would sell out quickly.
Cocktail Bar & Craft Beer Shop
Finally, I headed to the booth "Cocktail Bar & Craft Beer Shop," which can be considered the highlight of the Mizushima Evening Garden.
- BAR TAKEMOTO
- COCKTAIL LOUNGE Kibi
- Andante
This cocktail bar features three famous bars in Mizushima collaborating.
The bartenders shake and mix cocktails right on the spot for just 500 yen.
In the same booth, there is also a craft beer shop.
Since I came by car, I couldn't drink, but I asked someone who was enjoying a Belgian fruit beer for their thoughts.
- It's sweet and easy to drink!
- It tastes like juice and is delicious!
I wanted to try it. Drinking beer outside must be exceptionally delicious.
Conclusion
Some people may have the image that "Mizushima has many drinking streets and is scary."
In an effort to dispel such images, the "Mizushima Evening Garden" started in 2016.
- Mizushima is a great place, peaceful and easy to spend time in
- There are many stylish and delicious shops
- Let's sit on the sofa and enjoy live performances with a beer in hand
In fact, it is a gentle town full of welcoming people.
And we invite local shops that are working hard to participate, so that people can think, "I didn't know such a good shop existed, I'll go again," and visit those shops next time.
The thoughts of the organizers supporting Mizushima are also packed in.
Since it is a one-night-only event, the next event is scheduled for 2023.
Please come and visit.
Mizushima Friendship Festival 2022 Mizushima Evening Garden Data
| Name | Mizushima Friendship Festival 2022 Mizushima Evening Garden |
|---|---|
| Date | October 8, 2022 (Saturday) 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Location | 9-10 Nishitokiwa-cho, Mizushima, Kurashiki City |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free |
| Website | 5th Mizushima Evening Garden |
