A free food and drink festival runs for three days next to Ebina Station in Kanagawa, from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September. The name, Highball & Kuidaore Fest in Ebina (ハイボール&くいだおれフェスinEBINA), gives you the idea: highballs to drink and plenty of food to eat. Kuidaore roughly means eating until you drop. There is no entry fee, so you only pay for what you order.
Key facts at a glance
| Dates | Fri 25 – Sun 27 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 11:00–20:00 each day |
| Venue | Ebina Central Park (海老名中央公園), next to Vinawalk (ビナウォーク) |
| Address | 1-291-3 Chuo, Ebina, Kanagawa |
| Entry | Free |
| Stalls | 34 in total (13 drinks, 18 food, plus festival game booths) |
| Organiser | Ebina Designated Management Group (海老名指定管理グループ) |
The organisers are the group that manages the park, together with Odakyu SC Development, which runs the neighbouring Vinawalk mall. They have held food festivals in the park since 2023. Their three-day Sake to Umaimon Fest in May 2026 drew an estimated 57,800 visitors, so expect busy weekend crowds.
Drinks: highballs from ¥600 and local craft beer
There are 13 drink stalls. Highballs and other drinks start at ¥600 a glass and come in the festival’s own cup. Most of the fun is comparing flavours, so smaller orders from several stalls work better than one big drink.
Two highballs from the press release are worth looking for. Awa to Kohaku (泡と琥珀) is new to the festival and serves a shari-shari highball. It is topped with a whisky-and-water slush, then finished with lemon. The pitch is that even the ice tastes good.
Beer&Sour STAND serves the baku lemon highball, a glass packed with cut lemon. It is sharp and clean, and the organisers suggest it with food.
Local craft beer made from rescued ingredients
Two breweries from Ebina and neighbouring Atsugi share an upcycling idea: they turn ingredients that would never reach shops into beer.
Sankt Gallen (サンクトガーレン) is a pioneer of Japanese craft beer and is joining the festival for the first time. It brings an autumn Japanese pear weizen. The beer uses pears that could not be sold because of scratches and other marks. Pear is added in three forms: chopped, as a paste and as juice.
Better life with upcycle is an Ebina brewery that grew out of a local bakery founded in 1923. It replaces part of the malt with bread crusts that the bakery would not otherwise use. The range runs from traditional styles to easy-drinking beers made with upcycled fruit.
Food: 18 stalls from around Japan
Eighteen food stalls cover both drinking snacks and dishes for children, such as shaved ice and long fries. Shiitake grill is also on the list.
Kiwami no Kakigoya Ichiban (極みのかき小屋壱番) steams fresh oysters in the shell. The 1 Pound Steak Specialist (1ポンドステーキ専門店) grills a steak of about 450 g, which is plenty to share around the table.
Highlighted stalls announced so far:
| Stall | Type | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Awa to Kohaku (first time) | Highball | Shari-shari frozen highball |
| Beer&Sour STAND | Highball | Baku lemon highball |
| Sankt Gallen (first time) | Craft beer | Japanese pear weizen |
| Better life with upcycle | Craft beer | Beers brewed with bread crusts |
| Kiwami no Kakigoya Ichiban | Food | Steamed oysters |
| 1 Pound Steak Specialist | Food | One-pound steak (about 450 g) |
The full stall list and menus are on the official festival site.
For kids: festival games and street performers
The event is not only for drinkers. Festival booths offer shooting games, water-balloon yo-yo fishing, smart ball and fruit candy, so a family visit works well.
Street performers put on balloon art, mime and other street performances. The stage is not in the park itself. It is set up in front of Vina Step, on the ground floor of Vinawalk Building 5.
| Day | Show times |
|---|---|
| Fri 25 Sep | 18:30–19:30 |
| Sat 26 Sep | 12:00–13:00 15:00–16:00 18:00–19:00 |
| Sun 27 Sep | 12:00–13:00 15:00–16:00 18:00–19:00 |
Getting there
Ebina Station is served by three lines, and the park is within a few minutes on foot from each.
| Line | Walk to venue |
|---|---|
| Odakyu Odawara Line Ebina Station | 2 minutes (directly connected) |
| Sotetsu Main Line Ebina Station | 2 minutes |
| JR Sagami Line Ebina Station | 4 minutes |
If you are planning more autumn outings by rail, our guide to the Aki no Norihodai Pass for three days of JR local trains explains how that ticket works. Check which areas it covers before you plan a route.
Things to know before you go
- Weather: the festival is cancelled in rain or strong wind, and it may also change or be cancelled without notice. On an uncertain day, check the official pages before you set off.
- Money: entry is free, but food and drinks cost money. Drinks start at ¥600. The organisers have not listed prices for food or accepted payment methods, so check the official site.
- Timing: the festival falls on the weekend right after the five-day holiday in September. Weekday hours on Friday are the same as the weekend (11:00–20:00), so Friday may suit you if you want a calmer visit.
- Stage: the shows are at Vinawalk, not in the park, so plan a short walk between them.
A free-entry festival like this is an easy day out. If you want to bring down everyday costs too, our beginner guide to point sites in Japan is a good starting point. For a relaxed evening after the festival, see our ¥300 Tokyo sento coupon guide.
FAQ
- Q. Does it cost anything to get in?
- No. Entry is free. You pay only for the food and drinks you buy.
- Q. When and where is the festival?
- It runs from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September 2026, 11:00 to 20:00 each day, at Ebina Central Park in Ebina, Kanagawa, next to the Vinawalk mall.
- Q. How much are the drinks?
- Highballs and other drinks start at 600 yen per glass and are served in an original festival cup.
- Q. Will it go ahead if it rains?
- It is cancelled in rain or strong wind, and it may change or be cancelled without notice. Check the official pages on the day.
- Q. Is it suitable for children?
- Yes. There are festival game booths such as shooting games, yo-yo fishing and smart ball, plus street performances. Food such as shaved ice and long fries is also available.
- Q. What is the nearest station?
- Ebina Station. The venue is a 2-minute walk from the Odakyu and Sotetsu stations and a 4-minute walk from the JR Sagami Line station.
Official links
- Highball & Kuidaore Fest in Ebina official site (Japanese)
- Vinawalk event page (Japanese)
- Press release from Odakyu SC Development (Japanese)
Information as of 16 September 2026. Details may change, so check the official pages for the latest.