The Thai-American Association of South Florida together with Miami Dade County Asian-American Advisory Board and the Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation Department will offer a day trip to the continent of Asia via the 30th annual Asian Culture Festival on Mar. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The community is invited to visit Fruit & Spice Park, 24801 SW 187 Ave. in the Redland, for what promises to be even bigger and better than last year.
“For the past 30 years, we’ve come together to celebrate and share our Asian culture and traditions with the South Florida community,” said Tai Vaz, executive producer, Asian Culture Festival. “We are thrilled to honor this special milestone with what is sure to be our best festival to date.”
The annual fun-filled family event, the Asian Culture Festival, celebrates the diversity of Asian cultures through an enchanting journey of music and dance, performances, demonstrations, arts, and handcrafts, highlighted by a tasty selection of authentic Asian cuisine.
All of the flavors of Asia will be on full display, featuring gastronomical delights from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Iran, South Korea, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Israel, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Vietnam, Mongolia and more.
The two-day festival will offer a range of entertainment that is set to dazzle audiences of all ages with drummers, dancers, musicians, martial artists and others expressing their heritage through shared cultural experiences. Featured performances include a Lion Dance, the Thai Dance Troupe of Miami, a Thai traditional drummer, and Fushu Daiko Japanese Taiko drummers, which will embrace traditions with extravagant costumes, original instruments and dance styles rooted in historical celebrations, that date back more than thousands of years.
An array of family-friendly activities will be curated for children, to actively experience and learn the traditions, contributions, and heritage of Asia. Children will receive a traveling Passport as they embark on educational adventures visiting each country, where they will learn how to write their names in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai and more. A children’s playground will boast enjoyable games such as rock climbing, a bounce house fun and more.
Additional unique programs include Traditional Thai Fruit and Vegetable Carving, Free Ikebana & Japanese Flower Arrangement workshops at the Coral Rock Auditorium and K-pop dancers. Asian arts, crafts, cultural products and a variety of plants will also be on display and available for purchase.
“We’re proud to once again be a part of the 30th annual Asian Culture Festival,” said Consul General Kenji Hirata. “We embrace every opportunity we have to share the unique aspects of Japanese culture and tradition with the South Florida community.”
With the continuous loyalty of the Asian-American community and Asian-enthusiasts alike, the Asian Culture Festival attracted more than 15,000 visitors last year. The festival seeks to continue bringing together the South Floridian community at large, for years to come; promoting the importance of cultural diversity and inclusivity in building a vibrant, prosperous and healthy community.
The Asian Culture Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 7-8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Preston B. Bird/Mary Heinlein Redland Fruit & Spice Park, operated by Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, 24801 SW 187 Ave. Homestead, FL 33031. Admission to the festival is $14 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children under 6 are free.
To purchase tickets, visit www.asianculturefestival.net/.
