The festival is held throughout July and its highlights are: Mikoshi togyo (parade of mikoshi - portable shrines, and priests for the divine spirits in the portable shrine moving to other places from the main shrine); Yamahoko Junko (costumed procession of Gion Festival Floats); and Yoiyama (the eve of the main festival).
7月を通じて行われる長い祭りであるが、神輿渡御や山鉾巡行や宵山が中心となる。