Garland’s Winters Park was the site of the first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Festival Saturday, May 20. The event was well attended and provided fun for all ages. Regions represented included Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Myanmar, India, Hawaii and more.
The festival showcased the beauty, bright colors, creativity and talented performers of the Asian culture. The costumes of the performers, dancers, lion dance participants and Colorful World Parade participants were stunning.
Photos courtesy of Carissa Dutton
There were also booths that exhibited the wares of talented crafters and a variety of Asian cuisine was available.
Jennifer Nguyen, a prominent leader in Garland’s Asian community, said that this is the first time they have hosted an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Festival.
“Many community leaders and ethnic groups attended, and the rest of the community…We are so happy with that,” Nguyen said.
She added that she never dreamed of having an event like this festival.
Mayor Scott LeMay said that events like this one help bring people together.
“Garland is a very diverse city. It’s one thing to talk about diversity. It’s one thing to just mention it in a speech,” he said. “But here in Garland, we live diversity. LeMay added that it was great to have today’s festival and said that he knows that Garland will continue to have it for many years to come.”
About AAPI Heritage Month:
President George H.W. Bush signed a law that designated May 1990 as the first Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Many Americans and Asian Americans are not knowledgeable about Asian American history, so AAPI Heritage Month is a great time to learn more about that history. A great way to do that is by participating in cultural activities.
The month of May was chosen for two reasons. First, it commemorates the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843. Second, to honor the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
AAPI Heritage Month is a great time to pay tribute to Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. as they have been enriching the nation for generations. There are millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., all with an interesting variety of cultures and traditions.
Sources: https://time.com/5956943/aapi-history-milestones/
https://www.state.gov/asian-american-and-pacific-islander-aapi-heritage-month/