Asian Festival returns to UTSA on May 27

DECEMBER 16, 2022—Festival-goers from across the state will enjoy time-honored traditions when San Antonio’s treasured Asian Festival returns on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Downtown Campus. UTSA will partner with one of San Antonio’s foremost Asian American civic organizations, the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AAACC) Educational Foundation, to offer the one-day event, which celebrates the diverse Asian diaspora in South Texas and San Antonio.

The AAACC is an established catalyst in creating local and international alliances through cultural programs and initiatives. This will be the first Asian Festival since the pandemic’s onset and the first since UTSA embarked on the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) Centennial 2068: Community Stakeholder Visioning process.

“We are so excited to partner with the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation to continue the beloved tradition of the Asian Festival to educate and engage the UTSA community, our city and beyond,” said Kimberly Andrews Espy, UTSA provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Through the ITC Centennial 2068: Community Stakeholder Visioning process, we engaged our San Antonio community, industry leaders and stakeholders to envision the future of the ITC and its programming, collections and special events. It is with pride that UTSA will leverage the results of the visioning process to continue and expand the great ITC events that have advanced our community.”

“AAPI Heritage Month allows the festival to shine a light on all Asian communities.”

Elva Adams, AAACC educational foundation chair, said, “We are honored to partner with UTSA to bring back the Asian Festival. We can’t wait to reunite our communities for this much-loved event, and we are pleased to have the continued support of our friends at UTSA. This festival will focus on our mission to educate and celebrate Asian heritage.”

The Asian Festival, traditionally held in February, will be moved to May to honor and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The event will utilize a community-centered partnership model with the AAACC taking the lead, aligned with the feedback from the stakeholders through the visioning process. With the 2023 festival, the annual celebration will pick up where it left off.

“Having the Asian Festival in May is a meaningful and intentional move toward inclusivity, “said Veronica Rodriguez, ITC interim head curator. “AAPI Heritage Month allows the festival to shine a light on all Asian communities.”

UTSA will evaluate the new partnership model as a foundation for hosting the Texas Folklife Festival, tentatively scheduled for Fall 2024, following the nationwide search for a new associate vice provost for the ITC. Working with Koya Partners, a nationally renowned search firm, the university anticipates announcing the finalist for this position in June 2023.

The Asian Festival is one of San Antonio’s premier family-friendly events, with hands-on activities and opportunities to learn through experience. Attendees will once again enjoy authentic food, multicultural performances, music, games, art, fashion, crafts and more.

Ticket information will be announced soon.