The 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival was a rousing success.
Over 45,000 people attended the annual 2 day festival that included performances, food, cultural displays, health screenings, games, kids and family activities and more.
Take a video walk through the food court to get an idea of the crowds.
This year CAF volunteers helped implement a near zero waste environment for the festival.
CAF Volunteers at a recycling station
There were traditional and modern performances on two stages. There was something for everyone. Younger people really liked the Asian Pop Dance Competition. Plenty of martial arts on the second stage. And so on.
The event co-producers and executive board were introduced by MC Wayne Wong at the annual Cleveland Asian Festival on Saturday May 20, 2023. First were co-producers
Lisa Wong and Johnny Wu and then executive committee members Vi Huynh, Debbie Yue, Michael Mendoza, Oanh Powell, Karis Tzeng and Gabriel Kramer.
Here are a few links to pages of photos and videos of some of the CAF highlights.
Kwan Family Lion Dance at Cleveland Asian Festival
The annual Cleveland Asian Festival was held on May 20 and 21, 2023 and attracted about 45,000 attendees. Each year the Kwan Family Lion Dance Team opens the festival with a performance. This year they have added a new lion so they performed an awakening ceremony on the lion and then put on an amazing performance featuring both the old and new lions.
Kwan Family Lion Dance Team at the 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival
Stellar Acrobatic Dancers at Cleveland Asian Festival
Students from the Stellar Acrobatic Dance Academy performed at the annual Cleveland Asian Festival on Saturday May 20, 2023. They performed a variety of group and solo dances in colorful costumes.
Traditional Chinese Instruments at Cleveland Asian Festival
World renowned master of the guzheng Rosa Lee was joined by pipa master YanPing Ye, dizi player Kecheng Liu and erhu players Yu Chengguang and Janice Liu for several classic Chinese instrumentals. A 7 year old student of Rosa's also performed on the guzheng.
Janice Liu, Yu Chengguang, Kecheng Liu, Rosa Lee and YanPing Ye
Yume Daiko Japanese taiko drummers at 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival
Matt Richards studied, taught and performed taiko with the group Mukade Daiko during the fifteen years he lived and worked in Yasu, Japan. Matt had the opportunity to attend camps and workshops with the world famous Japanese taiko group Kodo. He began with Mukade Daiko as a beginner and left as the leader. After moving to Cleveland he and his children began performing in various scholastic and private function venues. Other members joined and the group took the name, Yume Daiko; the two words meaning "Dream" and "Drums".
Yume Daiko taiko drummers at Cleveland Asian Festival
Sho-Jo-Ji Japanese Dancers at 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival
The Sho-Jo-Ji Dancers are a Japanese dance group that had its first performance in 1956. They perform traditional dances from Japan in authentic kimonos. 3 generations performed at the 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival.
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates 50th anniversary display
Founded in 1973, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national member-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. with 50+ chapters and affiliates across the U.S. OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates has been dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). A display showing the 50 years of OCA advocacy was featured at the annual Cleveland Asian Festival on May 20 and 21, 2023.
Making commemorative prints at Cleveland Asian Festival
There were dozens of informational exhibits and displays at the Festival including numerous hands-on and interactive opportunities. For example, Zygote Press showed attendees how to make their own commemorative prints using their relief printing press.
It was a terrific event. Kudos to co-producers Johnny Wu and Lisa Wong and all the volunteers. Be sure to come back to AsiaTown often to enjoy the food, shopping and history.
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