May 3, 2023
Celebrate and learn about Asian American cultures and customs with entertaining, educational events for the entire family at Tulsa City-County Library’s 21st annual Asian American Festival on Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road. Admission is free.
The festival will feature crafts and activities, like guided meditation from Tam Bao Buddhist Temple and traditional Korean games, as well as live performances, food vendors, booths and more. Also, children’s artwork from Kyoto, Japan, will be on display, courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Scheduled presentations and performances include:
- Kanpai Drum Team, a drum performance group from Oklahoma
- China Roses, a Chinese folk-dance troupe
- Kaajhuab, a local Hmong dance team established to create a safe space for Hmong girls and young women to learn teamwork, discipline and self-confidence through the art of dance
- Tulsa Kendo Dojo, a local martial arts school that teaches kendo, a traditional Japanese style of fencing, based on samurai swordsmanship
- Di Dim Dol, a Korean dance team
- Nkauj Huam Ci, a troupe that performs traditional Hmong dance
The festival will conclude with the annual Japanese tea ceremony led by Sand Springs-based Japan native Yumie Farringer.
Food vendors include DBK Asian Bakery, which offers desserts and pastries; Lucky Tea Boba, serving Taiwanese beverages and treats; Manila Ice, a Filipino street food and shaved ice food truck; and Tandoori Guys, which serves Indian cuisine. Organizations with booths include Disaster Resilience Network Cross-Cultural Council, Japan American Society of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Society for Culture Appreciation, Thomas Academy Tai Chi Kung Fu, Tulsa Global District, Tulsa Japanese Friendship Club and more.
The Tulsa Library Trust sponsors the Asian American Festival. For more details about the festival as well as book lists and educational resources, visit www.tulsalibrary.org/asianfestival or call AskUs at 918-549-7323.
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