The French Market has partnered with the Asian-Pacific American Society to host the Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival. The inaugural event will take place at the French Market Flea Market on Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring cultural programming, thematic food booths and family activities.
The Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival is a celebration of the people, traditions, achievements, and contributions of the Pacific Rim in New Orleans by American people of Asian descent. The festival is free and open to the public.
“Collaborating with the French Market for our annual heritage festival naturally makes sense due to the market’s rich cultural history and delicious food. We are excited to celebrate our Asian American Pacific Islander heritage with New Orleans,” said Dr. Wendy Jung, chair of the Asian-Pacific American Society.
The festival will feature flavors from Asia and the Pacific Rim from seven local restaurants and community organizations representing India, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines and Vietnam. The food will include pork adobo from Kusina (pork shoulder braised in Filipino soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic served over garlic fried rice with a tomato onion salad tossed in vinegar and fish sauce), kinilaw from Milkfish (Filipino style ceviche with fish and shrimp, vinegar, coconut milk, green mango, chili, red onion, sweet pepper and ginger served with crackers), and barbecue pork steam buns from Pho Orchid.
Cultural programing, curated by the Asian-Pacific American Society, will include entertainment from many Asian community organizations including the Shaolin Institute and Southern Lotus Lion Dance.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Asian-Pacific American Society to bring the Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival to the French Market,” said Jeremy Smith, director of marketing at the The French Market. “The French Market serves as a cultural hub for the city, not only for events, but through our vibrant community of vendors and shop owners from around the world that proudly represent New Orleans. What better way to celebrate our cultural diversity than to host culture bearers at our site to share their stories.”
| TIME | PERFORMANCE | PERFORMER/ GROUP | ORGANIZATION/ COMMUNITY |
| 11 a.m. | Festival Welcome | MC: Sula Kim & APAS | Asian Pacific American Society (APAS) |
| 11:30 a.m. | Shaolin Mind, Body, and Spirit | Shaolin Institute | Chinese community |
| 12 p.m. | Bharatanatyam | Nritya Radhika | Indian community |
| 1 p.m. | You are the Most Beautiful | Fei-Yang Dance Team | New Orleans Chinese Association |
| 1:15 p.m. | Filipino Folk Song | Hayley Wysinger | Filipino-American Association of St. Tammany |
| 1:30 p.m. | The Medley of Chinese Ethnic Group Dances | Fei-Yang Dance Team | New Orleans Chinese Association |
| 1:45 p.m. | Zen Dance | Yan Zhuang | New Orleans Chinese Association |
| 2:30 p.m. | sora calling | sora | Taiwanese Association of New Orleans |
| 3:15 p.m. | Traditional- Southern Style Lion Dance | Southern Lotus Lion Dance | Vietnamese Community- Baton Rouge |
| 3:45 p.m. | Festival Closing & Thanks | MC: Sula Kim & APAS | Asian Pacific American Society |
For additional information, visit FrenchMarket.org.
The French Market District spans from the Shops at the Upper Pontalba Building on Jackson Square to Crescent Park, including the Shops of the Colonnade on Decatur Street and the open-air farmers and flea markets. The district is open daily and offers an eclectic variety of shops, eateries, and events year-round.
