Nearly 100,000 people attend Cincinnati’s 2023 Asian Food Fest
By Carl Samson
A whopping 98,920 people attended this year’s Asian Food Fest in Cincinnati, the largest crowd the event has seen since its launch 12 years ago, according to new reports.
The festival, which featured more than 170 dishes from 15 Asian countries, took place at Court Street Plaza on April 29 and April 30, marking a grand welcome for AAPI Heritage Month.
“It was such a joy to see our community come together at Asian Food Fest to celebrate and learn about Asian food and culture,” said Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Sam Burke, as per WXIX. “What a way to kick off the start of May’s AAPI Heritage Month!”
Aside from the best of Asian cuisine, attendees enjoyed performances from more than 100 artists, 16 local groups and 10 local AAPI DJs. These included Chinese and Filipino cultural dances, a Bollywood and Bhangra dance party, comedy performances and a karaoke contest, WCPO reported.
This year’s Asian Food Fest also featured interactive activities such as dumpling folding lessons and calligraphy demonstrations. There were also lantern workshops and activities for Rangoli sand art, a traditional part of Diwali celebrations.
“Cincinnati continues to embrace this unique event,” said Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Marketing Manager Brad Mason. “Throughout the weekend we saw attendees from across the Cincinnati region and beyond come together to celebrate Asian culture and indulge in some absolutely amazing food. It was a phenomenal kickoff to the festival season in Cincinnati.”
Ohio is home to around 344,000 people who identify as Asian American or Asian, according to a 2022 report by local think tank The Center for Community Solutions.
The largest concentration is reportedly in Columbus. Meanwhile, areas with at least 5,000 residents include Cincinnati, Akron, Cleveland, Washington (Franklin County), Deerfield (Warren County), Orange (Delaware County) and West Chester Townships (Butler County).
A full economic impact of this year’s Asian Food Fest is expected to be released several months from now. In the meantime, attendees are encouraged to participate in a survey.
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