May 24, 2023 Cleveland, OH – Over 45,000
people attended the Cleveland Asian Festival (CAF) on Saturday May
20 and Sunday May 21, 2023. The AsiaTown neighborhood was packed
with families and people of all ages to enjoy the annual festival
that kicks off summer in Cleveland.
Since inception in 2010 the Cleveland Asian Festival highlights
Cleveland’s AsiaTown, Diversity, and Asian Culture in Northeast
Ohio. It was organized in 2010 by volunteer community leaders to
celebrate Cleveland’s diversity and Asian Pacific American Heritage
month (May). This signature event defines AsiaTown and brings tens
of thousands, including many first-timers, to the neighborhood.
Surveys show that a large percentage of visitors will return to
AsiaTown to shop, dine and enjoy the neighborhood. By being in
AsiaTown, CAF has led to the creation of new businesses in the area
as well as neighborhood beautification with arts and cultural
displays and decorations throughout the district.
Attendees enjoyed two stages of performances that featured
traditional and modern music and dance as well as martial arts. The
Asian Pop Dance competition was especially popular with the younger
attendees. The Trivia Contest had an Asian theme.
Johnny Wu, co-producer and one of the founders of CAF says, “The
Cleveland Asian Festival has been designed to have something for
everyone. Many of the 45,000+ attendees told us that the free health
screenings, trivia contest, diverse performances, and games for kids
and adults and of course the very popular food options made this one
of the best Cleveland Asian Festivals in memory. And it could only
happen in AsiaTown.”
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is an important recognition
of the contributions of the AAPI community and a chance to stand
together against recent anti-Asian sentiments. CAF attracts the
Asian community but also groups representing the numerous diverse
ethnic heritages of Cleveland.
Lisa Wong, co-producer and another of the founders of CAF, says “We
worked hard to implement a near zero waste environment for the
festival. Our volunteers helped educate people and separated waste
for easy recycling and composting. Attendees appreciated the
efforts.”
The CAF team is already working on plans to celebrate Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month at the Cleveland Asian Festival next May 18
and 19, 2024.
About the 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival
The Cleveland Asian Festival is an annual celebration of Asian
Pacific American Heritage month in May in Cleveland’s AsiaTown
neighborhood. It is a landmark undertaking to unite the community
through collaboration and recognition of its culture, diversity, and
people. The 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival was held on Saturday May
20 and Sunday May 21. https://clevelandasianfestival.org/2023/
Distinguished Sponsors are JACK Entertainment and Cleveland
Foundation. Presenting Sponsors are Cleveland Public Power, the City
of Cleveland and Ward 7 Councilwoman Stephanie Howse, NEORSD, Aids
Taskforce of Greater Cleveland and OCA Greater Cleveland. Partner
Sponsors include Mazda of Wooster, Mansfield Buick GMC Dealers,
Bartell Georgalas & Juarez, LPA, Cleveland Institute of Art,
Cleveland Metroparks, First Federal Lakewood, First National Bank of
PA, KeyBank, PNC, Third Federal, Tyler Village, Asian Services in
Action (ASIA) and the Cleveland Public Library. And many more
Associate and Media Sponsors.
The 2024 Cleveland Asian Festival will be May 18 and 19, 2024
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