Annual Asian Cultural Festival

The Annual Asian Cultural festival in Florida was held on March 5th at Tropical Park. The festival, sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board, promoted cultural diversity by immersing attendees into Asian culture. With hundreds of people of varying ethnicities attending, the festival combined several different Asian cultures in a way that has the festival feeling safe and inclusive. Its two-day duration gives the festival just enough time to allow for a unique experience with a wide array of foods and cultural celebrations to enjoy. The festival combined traditional dances and practices from across Asia by allowing local businesses and artisans to participate in sharing their traditional history. Various exhibits and stalls were dispersed across the park with a wide array of products and food. Among these were stalls celebrating several Asian regions and their unique histories and beliefs. An important part of any culture, the food stalls held the most variety with traditional dishes from across the world, one of which being Thai Khao Lam: a traditional, delicious Thai sticky rice dish grilled in bamboo that I bought. The festival had Asian members from several institutions and businesses including Miami Dade College, FIU, as well as government organizations. This festival was truly special and had some of the most vibrant demonstrations of our culture and what it means to be Asian.