Food enthusiasts and cultural aficionados, mark your calendars because the Asian Food Fest is once again transforming Cincinnati's Court Street Plaza into a vibrant showcase of Asian cuisine this weekend. The annual festival, celebrating its 14th incarnation and hosted by Asianati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, is set to welcome a crowd of nearly 100,000 attendees over two appetizing days.
With Saturday's festivities kicking off at 11 a.m. and lasting until 10 p.m., and Sunday's feast from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the festival will feature more than 60 vendors offering a feast of flavors ranging from BobaCha to the Lalo Chino Latino, nourishing the hungry masses with dishes such as crab rangoon, boba and milk tea, spring rolls, curries, and dumplings, attendees can expect an array of "secret menu" items paying homage to the authentic, home-cooked style Asian cuisine; these secret delicacies will be peppered throughout the festival for the more adventurous palates according to a statement obtained by WCPO.
The celebration extends beyond food, with a plethora of entertainment acts scheduled to perform over the two days, including Filipino stick fighting, K-pop dancing, and Japanese taiko drums, aiming to dazzle and engage visitors in a rich cultural tapestry, for those who want to plan their entertainment itinerary more details on the acts and schedules are available on the festival's website.
Local crowd favorites like 513 Bubble Tea, Cupzilla, and Tikka Xpress will be lining the streets alongside first-time participants, and with over one hundred performers confirmed, the festival's commitment to showcasing Asian cultural talents is as robust as ever; according to FOX19, JP Leong, Asianati Co-Chair for Asian Food Fest, enthusiasticly shared, "This year’s Asian Food Fest represents the beautiful diversity of Asia like never before, with many dishes you simply can’t find elsewhere in Cincinnati.” In addition to the food, the festival's entertainment lineup includes Balintawak Filipino stick fighting, martial arts, Taoist Tai Chi - ensuring that attendees are not only fed but also richly edified.
While the festival enlivens the downtown area, it comes with its share of logistics, namely road closures, which start as early as Thursday. Court Street, between Walnut and Elm streets, among others, will be closed, with the expectation of reopening the following Monday at 7 a.m. For those planning their visit, nearby parking options include the Court & Walnut Garage and the 9th Street Garage. Organizers recommend carpooling, public transportation, or ridesharing for convenience, as noted by WCPO. In case the Asian cuisine isn't enough to fill your weekend, Cincinnati's packed event lineup also includes the city's largest Earth Day celebration, Disney's "Frozen Jr." and the Cincinnati Ballet's production of "Snow White", compiled in a handy top 10 list by Cincinnati.com.
