The annual Daikin Festival will return Friday, May 1, offering a blend of Japanese culture and Southern hospitality at Point Mallard Park.

Hosted by Daikin America, the free community event will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m., with gates opening at 6:30. Admission, food, drinks and parking will all be provided at no cost.

Organizers say the festival is designed as a thank-you to the North Alabama community, featuring live entertainment, cultural demonstrations and family-friendly activities.

“This is our way of showing appreciation for the community we call home,” organizers said.

The evening will open with performances by Daikin’s Taiko Force Drum Team, with additional appearances throughout the event. Live music will also feature Natchez Trace, known for sharing stages with artists such as Randy Travis and Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Calhoun Community College Show Band, directed by Grammy-nominated Dr. Matt Leder.

Festivalgoers can also expect roaming entertainment, including acrobats, jugglers, plate spinners and a magician, followed by a fireworks show by PYRO Shows to close out the night.

Food offerings will include a mix of American and Japanese options such as chicken fingers, pizza, jambalaya, yakisoba, yakitori and ice cream mochi, along with a new addition of roasted corn. All food and beverages will be available free of charge.

A central focus of the festival is cultural education. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about shodo, the Japanese art of calligraphy, and watch live demonstrations of amezaiku, a traditional form of candy sculpting. Master artisan Shinobu Ichiyanagi, known as “The Candyman,” is scheduled to demonstrate the craft.

The first 2,500 guests will also receive a free happi coat, a traditional Japanese garment commonly worn during festivals.

Daikin Festival organizers encourage attendees to arrive early, noting that the event consistently draws large crowds.