Next Saturday, the Filipino American Friendship Festival takes over Liberty Station’s NTC Park again, turning the waterfront green into a daylong celebration of Philippine independence and San Diego’s Filipino community. The free, family-friendly event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and packs in live music, cultural dance and arts presentations, a Palengke marketplace and a championship-style lumpia-eating contest. Organizers say the festival is designed to mix entertainment with civic and community resources so residents can plug into local services while they hang out.
When and where
Presented by the API Initiative, the 6th annual festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 11 AM to 6 PM, according to KPBS. The KPBS events listing notes free entry and parking and calls out programming blocks like a Karaoke Korner and a Storytellers Space. The schedule is built to blend stage performances with family activities and resource tables, so there is usually something happening whether you are there for the show or the community info.
Food, vendors and activities
The festival’s Palengke marketplace brings in a crowd of local sellers and food stalls. Past editions were billed as over 75 vendors, including 22 food vendors, per Tracy Badua, and this year’s program again highlights Filipino small businesses and artisans. Local previews also flag a championship lumpia-eating contest and appearances by radio and TV personalities, according to the San Diego Reader. An Educators Pavilion and Health & Wellness resources sit alongside family games and storytelling sessions, turning the park into a mix of food fair, cultural showcase and neighborhood resource hub.
Who’s behind it
The festival was founded in 2021 by Joann Fields, who serves as founder and director and as government and public relations director for the API Initiative, according to local coverage and municipal listings. Fields, a Chula Vista resident described in coverage as having four adult children and five grandchildren, told The San Diego Union-Tribune she is redirecting her energy into something positive as the event grows. Her long-running civic work with the API Initiative and other groups has helped the festival attract volunteers and partner organizations that keep the festival running.
A day with history
The timing ties the festival to July observances around Philippine independence. The United States formally recognized the Philippines on July 4, 1946, after a transition outlined in the Tydings-McDuffie Act, per the U.S. House history. The City of San Diego’s event listings show the festival returning to NTC Park in previous years, marking it as a recurring community fixture. For many attendees, the day doubles as a cultural touchstone and a practical way to connect with local services and civic engagement opportunities in one place.
How to go
NTC Park at Liberty Station is at 2455 Cushing Rd., with plenty of room for blankets, lawn chairs and stroller parking. Organizers recommend arriving early for vendor shopping and family activities, and details on schedules, vendor lists and volunteer sign-ups are available on the API Initiative’s festival page. For the latest updates, visit API Initiative.
