The 10th annual Cleveland Asian Festival was held on the weekend of May 18 and 19 in Cleveland's AsiaTown neighborhood on Payne Avenue. It has become a not-to-miss annual event with great entertainment, food, shopping and fun.
As has become tradition, Master of Ceremonies Wayne Wong introduced the Kwan Family Lion Dance Team to kick off the 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival.
The Kwan family has been performing for over 35 years and for all 10 years of the Cleveland Asian Festival. Wong explained that the oranges resemble gold and the lettuce represents cash. Here are some video highlights.
NOTE: All the images below with a white arrow in the middle are videos. (The other images are just photos) You can click on the white arrow to watch the video of whatever is described. Make sure your speakers are on and you can make the video full screen once it begins by clicking the icon in the lower right corner.
George Kwan
Kwan Family Lion Dance Team with Wayne Wong and Mayor Frank Jackson
Wayne called up some of the dignitaries who were in attendance and members of the CAF executive board for a photo.
From left to right, Mike Mendoza, Johnny Wu, Wayne Wong, Lisa Wong, Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones, 3rd District Police Commander Dorothy Todd, Vi Huynh and Deborah Yue. Mayor Jackson, Congresswoman Fudge, Mayor Falconi, Commander Todd and Councilman Jones then gave their remarks.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson at Cleveland Asian Festival
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge at Cleveland Asian Festival
Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi at Cleveland Asian Festival
Councilman Basheer Jones at Cleveland Asian Festival
3rd District Police Commander Dorothy Todd at Cleveland Asian Festival
Wayne Wong and Basheer Jones, Councilman of Ward 7, announced that a street would be named to honor Stanley Eng posthumously. Mr. Eng was a champion especially of the poor and elderly of the Chinese community in the neighborhood.
Councilman Basheer Jones and Wayne Wong
Vi Huynh is one of the three (with Johnny Wu and Lisa Wong) co-founders of the Cleveland Asian Festival. He explained the original plans and goals of the festival and how they have grown over the last 10 years.
Vi Huynh
Mayor Frank Jackson gives Vi Huynh a proclamation for CAF
As usual, the 10th anniversary Cleveland Asian Festival drew tens of thousands of people who enjoyed continuous performances on two stages as well as shopping in the World Market, delicious foods from dozens of restaurants, a Health Pavilion, Tours of the AsiaTown neighborhood, an activities center and more.
For example, the Cleveland Contemporary Chinese Culture Association (CCCCA) performed on the Lantern Stage. Wayne Wong introduced Channel 19 news anchor Chris Tanaka at the 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival and Chris introduced the CCCCA performers. Here is a sample of the CCCCA performance.
Here is a short walk through the 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival (CAF) food court. A quick (and shaky, sorry) look at the various Asian foods available at the Cleveland Asian Festival.
One of the highlights of the two-day Cleveland Asian Festival is the performance by the OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team. Here is a video of their performance on Sunday.
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