In the Bay Area of Newark, California, the city hosted the Asian Pacific Heritage Festival at NewPark Mall on May 9th (last Saturday), attracting a large number of community residents. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Tri-City area has held the Asian Pacific Heritage Month event, which has attracted two to three thousand participants each year in the past.
The event featured over a hundred cultural, culinary, and retail booths representing ethnicities from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Mongolia, as well as Tibet, and Xinjiang, showcasing a diverse cultural panorama.
With over 20 multicultural performances simultaneously taking place, the event also included food trucks, test driving experiences, RV camping showcases, vintage bus tours, a miniature train, and a blood donation station. The highlight of the evening at 8:45 p.m. was a drone light show, a first for the Tri-City area (Fremont, Newark, and Union City), bringing a dazzling conclusion to the event.
The event was co-hosted by the Bay Area Hong Kong Community Center (Bay Area HKCC), former Fremont Mayor Gus Morrison, and City Planning Commissioner Cindy Do. Morrison expressed that the Asian Pacific Heritage Month is not just about celebrating Asian heritage but also showcasing the history of diverse ethnic groups contributing to community building in America. He emphasized that the Asian community has been a significant force in the Bay Area’s development from early involvement in railroad construction to continuous contributions in education, business, and public service fields.
He hoped that through this event, unity and hope could be brought together to build bridges between different ethnic groups, businesses, students, and families, providing inspiration for the next generation. City Planning Commissioner Cindy Do, a fourth-generation Chinese-American, expressed her desire to help the community and neighborhoods by supporting the development of shopping malls and cities through such events.
Raj Salwan, the Mayor of Fremont, stated that Asian Americans are an indispensable and significant ethnic group in the Tri-City area, with profound contributions to the community that deserve support and acknowledgment, playing a more central role in community development. Former Newark Mayor Alan Nagy noted the significant crowd at NewPark Mall, demonstrating the enduring vitality and potential for development that the mall still possesses.
Hu Zhihe, representing the Bay Area Hong Kong Community Center, emphasized the Bay Area as a place where various ethnicities converge, hoping that this event would promote inter-ethnic exchanges and help Hong Kong people integrate into mainstream American society while showcasing their own cultural characteristics.
Various community organizations, cultural groups, and educational service units gathered at the event to share their unique features through booths and performances, displaying the diverse facets of the Asian Pacific community. Singsong Affairs, a group advocating for human rights, freedom of speech, and public education, participated in such a community event for the first time this year.
Founder Duan Jingji brought propaganda materials, stickers, and books that underwent censorship in mainland China, aiming to showcase the creativity and strength of a new generation passionate about democracy in a public space, encouraging everyone to integrate their concerns for freedom into art and daily life.
Ruby Lux Dresses, a clothing brand of Afghan descent in the Bay Area, showcased handmade jewelry, vintage clothing, casual wear, and evening gowns. Brand representative Asma Nawabi expressed joy in introducing the beauty of Afghan clothing craftsmanship and culture to more people, all handmade in Kabul, Afghanistan. Hu Yiqu of the Northern California Taiwan Compatriots Association stated their participation for the third time in the Asian Culture Festival, aiming to introduce the beauty of Taiwan to Bay Area residents through the event.
There were also many educational booths present. The Hong Kong community group Dream Builder Team focused on financial education, with representative Jennifer Chen expressing the team’s intention to help individuals effectively plan their finances by sharing knowledge on financial management and tax planning.
Shoko Aramaki, a Japanese language course instructor at Ohlone College, participated in the Asian Culture Festival for the third time with their Japanese language program, delighted to interact with the public and introduce Japanese language and culture. Representing Nira Thai Language School, Kruu Ann hoped to promote the Thai language school newly established in Fremont in March; the event also featured a traditional slow dance performance from northern Thailand, showcasing the cultural charm of northern Thailand through dance and traditional clothing. ◇