NBC 5 is spotlighting North Texans who take pride in their cultural heritage and its influence on shaping the identity of the fastest-growing population in Texas.
While some events have already begun, there are numerous ways to celebrate throughout the metroplex this month.
One of the largest celebrations in the region will occur at Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie in just a couple of weeks.
The Asian Heritage Fest will run from May 17 to May 19, featuring food vendors, cultural performances, daily lion dances, and an inaugural 5K race. The entire event is free to attend, including parking.
NBC 5 interviewed Matthew Loh, the CEO of Asia Times Square, who has spent the last decade transforming the shopping center into a cultural hub for many Asian American families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“Our mission is preserving tradition and promoting culture,” Loh stated. “Our mission statement is to become the destination connecting cultures and communities. And this has been the fabric of our businesses, to bring people together, to unite people.”
Loh’s family also operates the Hong Kong Market Place grocery store, which has been a fixture in Dallas since the 1980s. Despite facing challenges in the early days due to the limited availability of Asian-oriented businesses, Loh is proud of the progress made by the Asian American community in North Texas.
Reflecting on his family’s journey as refugees escaping Vietnam in the 1970s, Loh emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities in America. He expressed pride in being part of a generation that is embracing their cultural identity in the DFW area.
The Asian Heritage Fest was initiated in response to the rise in anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic. Loh emphasized the event’s purpose of combating ignorance with acceptance and fostering unity among diverse communities.
Here’s a list of AAPI Heritage Month events happening around DFW:
– Lakefront Live! with 박준하 Junha (May 7)
– City Hall Celebration (May 9)
– Free admission day at Fort Worth Botanical Garden (May 10)
– AAPI Celebration at George W. Hawkes Downtown Library (May 11)
– Asian Heritage Fest at Asia Times Square (May 17-19)
– AAPI Family Weekend at Sammons Park (May 18)
– Meals & Memories: a Community Tasting for Asian American & Pacific Islander Month (May 18)
– Dallas Dragon Boat Festival (May 19)
– Teen Craft: K-pop Keychains! at Pleasant Grove Branch Library (May 19)
– Texas Rangers Asian Heritage Night at Globe Life Field in Arlington (June 7)
