Cincinnati is getting its first taste of Panda Fest, the touring Asian food and culture festival that's been sweeping through American cities, when it sets up shop at Smale Riverfront Park Oct. 16-18. Expect roughly 90 food vendors, more than 30 merchandise sellers, a panda-themed bounce house and a 15-foot inflatable panda greeting visitors along the riverfront.
The festival's Cincinnati debut was first detailed by the Cincinnati Enquirer, which reports the event will run Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. City officials have also weighed in on the logistics: City Manager Sheryl M. M. Long submitted a formal report to Cincinnati City Council on Aug. 5 regarding the special event permit application for Panda Fest at Smale Riverfront Park, according to City Council meeting records. The City of Cincinnati's official special events calendar estimates the festival will draw roughly 10,000 attendees over its three-day run.
That's a modest crowd by local standards. Cincinnati's long-running Asian Food Fest, organized by Asianati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber at Court Street Plaza, drew nearly 125,000 attendees over two days during its 15th annual event in April, per the festival's own event listings. Panda Fest is entering an Asian food festival market that's already proven massive here, even as it plants its own flag along the riverfront.
From a Panda-Video Habit to a National Tour
Panda Fest traces back to founder Xuan “BiuBiu” Xu, who created a single-day pop-up called Panda Day in New York City in 2024 after noticing the city lacked festivals authentic to modern Asian culture, according to the Enquirer's reporting. Xu has said she wanted to recreate even a fraction of the calming feeling panda videos gave her for others, a mission that helped Panda Day evolve into the multi-day Panda Fest now touring the country.
Before turning to food festivals, Xu got her start in experiential pop-ups, founding The Egg House in New York in 2018 — an egg-themed exhibit that later expanded to Shanghai, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Macau, according to an interview published on Medium. She also previously created Dragon Fest in New York, an outdoor Chinese food and culture festival that attracted more than 500,000 attendees across 21 events in 2023 and 2024, the same interview notes. Xu additionally founded Mulan House in 2023, a New York-based nonprofit that supports and mentors Asian women entrepreneurs and creative leaders.
The growth curve since Panda Day's 2024 launch has been steep. The brand produced 13 events across 11 U.S. cities in 2025 and has since expanded to Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Austin, Nashville and Washington, D.C., per the Enquirer, with additional 2026 debuts in Orlando, Houston, Pittsburgh, Portland and D.C. Hoodline previously covered the festival's 200-stall D.C. stop earlier this month.
What's on the Menu at Smale Riverfront Park
Cincinnati's lineup will include local and national vendors alongside small, family-run, immigrant-owned businesses, the Enquirer reports. Past Panda Fest stops have served dumplings, shrimp tempura, king squid, soufflé pancakes, shaobing, candied hawthorn tanghulu, mochi donuts and grilled eel, giving a sense of the range attendees might see along the Ohio River this fall. Food items generally range from $7 to $25, and every participating vendor is required to offer at least one item priced under $10.
Beyond food, the festival promises traditional and contemporary cultural performances, interactive activities, a panda mascot and other signature panda-themed experiences. The 45-acre Smale Riverfront Park, which opened in May 2012 and includes 12 acres of lawn space between Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium, gives organizers plenty of room to spread out vendors and activities along the downtown waterfront, according to Visit Cincy.
Tickets, Timing and Entry Rules
Early-bird tickets go on sale Thursday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m., priced at $10 and limited to 1,000 per time slot, according to festival organizers. That early-bird window runs through Sunday, Sept. 13, at 10 p.m., or until the allotted tickets sell out, whichever comes first. General admission runs $14, with an additional $2 for Saturday entry, while gate admission costs $20 and is subject to venue capacity. VIP tickets are $35 and include general admission benefits plus expedited entrance, access to exclusive VIP areas and restrooms, and a Panda Fest bag.
Every ticket comes with a Cincinnati-themed panda pin and headband, and advance ticket holders get priority entry over those paying at the gate. Children under 6 get in free and receive a complimentary headband, while kids 6 and older need a standard paid ticket. Tickets are available through pandafests.com.
As with other stops on the tour, Panda Fest Cincinnati will restrict outside food and beverages, allowing only one sealed water bottle up to 16.9 ounces along with infant formula and medically necessary dietary items. Weapons, self-defense sprays and all smoking or vaping products are strictly prohibited at the gates.
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