The upcoming Asian Festival on Main will only be Fairfax City’s fourth annual. Yet it’s rapidly grown into a rousing success and one of the City’s most colorful, energetic and well-attended events. 

Set for this Sunday, May 19, from noon -6 p.m., (rain date, June 2), it’ll offer delicious food, exotic beverages and exciting entertainers celebrating Asian culture. Admission is free, and this fun, family-friendly celebration promises something for people of all ages.

“We’ll have 165 vendors – about 65 more than last year,” said Festival Chair Tess Rollins, executive director of the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA), which is 

Chelsea Tan selling CHIBOO bakery’s macarons at 2023’s event. 

 

In its first year, 2021, the festival attracted 7,500 people. It more than doubled that number in 2022 with 18,000 attendees, and more than tripled it last year with 26,000 people. And, said Rollins, “As a first generation Asian American, I’m honored and proud to have a small part in showcasing Asian cultures and traditions to the City of Fairfax community and the DMV region.”

Indeed, at the April 30 City Council meeting, Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read proclaimed May 2024 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in the City. “I encourage everyone to celebrate the cuisine, art, music, dance and diverse cultures of the AANHPI community on May 19,” she said. “Help us welcome thousands of visitors from across the region to our City for the largest Asian Festival on Main, to date.”   

A true street festival, it’s held on Main Street in the downtown area, between Chain Bridge Road and Blenheim Boulevard, and on University Drive between Sager Avenue and North Street. It also includes Old Town Square.

More than 60 Asian food vendors, plus 11 food trucks, will sell a wide variety of tasty culinary delights. And a beer garden will offer alcoholic beverages from vendors including High Side, Blue Sky Distillery, Capital Sake and Yoju. In addition, there’ll be more than 70 non-food vendors and exhibitions.

Kicking off the festivities at 11:45 a.m. will be the spectacular Wun Lion Dance Troupe, which will lead the crowd from the intersection of Main Street and University Drive to Old Town Square. There, at noon on the main stage, Rollins and City Councilmembers So Lim and Tom Ross will officially welcome everyone to this springtime extravaganza. And 2015 Mrs. District of Columbia, Elaine Espinola, Keltz, will return as the event hostess and emcee.

The festival will honor the lunar Year of the Dragon by featuring Asian entertainers on two outdoor stages – at Main Street and at Old Town Square – and at one indoor venue, Earp’s Ordinary at 10420 Main St. Performing at Earp’s (next to Commonwealth Brewing Co.) from 1-2:30 p.m. will be the Asian band, Infusion, which reimagines famous South Asian and Western music pieces through a modernist lens. 

Car club DMV Itasha will bring anime-wrapped cars to University Drive near North Street for photo ops. And festival attendees are invited to dress up as their favorite characters from popular movies, books, TV shows and video games and participate in the cosplay costume contest. 

Event proceeds will go to nonprofit AALEAD (Asian American Leadership, Empowerment and Development). It supports low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth with educational resources, identity development and leadership opportunities via after-school, summer and mentoring programs.

Among the many food vendors are: Sambal Indonesian Food, Sister House, Simply Desserts, Sweets by Caroline, Master Grill, Lien’s Kitchen, Koi Tea, Krua Thai, Midori Tea House, Thik and Juicy, Mark’s Thai Taste, Mom’s Momo, Phowheels, Miracle Kitchen, Panee’s Ice Cream, Seas the Day, Sarin Grill, Nitro’s Creamery, Toimoi Bakery, My Alfajor, Thai Chong Tea Bar, and Toby’s Ice Cream. 

More food vendors are: Bun’d Up, Tea Do, Sen Coffee, Rice Crook, Seven Tea House, Gwenie’s Pastries, DeepFried Watermelon, Auntie Ning’s, Tres M Cuisine, Capital Musubi, Siam Shinzo, District Boba, Kin Thai, Cocoi’s, CHIBOO Bakery, Kay’s Smoothies, Good Day Crepe, Gong Cha, Pua’s, and Himalayan Soul Foods.

The festival is supported by many local businesses, including title sponsor Ox Hill Cos., as well as Main Street Bank, Hollywood Casinos at Charles Town Races and the Virginia Lottery. Fairfax City is also an integral, in-kind sponsor supporting the event via several City departments including Fire, Police, EMS, Parks and Rec, Signs and Signals, and Public Works. 

For more festival information, go to https://asianfestivalonmain.com/.

Entertainment Schedule

12:30 p.m.    AVINASH PANDA - South Asian Vocalist

12:40 p.m.    HALAU HULA O KE ANUENUE PUNAHELE - Hawaiian Cultural Dance

12:55 p.m.    NUSANTARA BUDAYA - Indonesian Cultural Dance

1:00 p.m.    BALI JEGEG - Balinese Cultural Dance

1:20 p.m.    SELENE / BRIONNA WALKER – Belly Dance

1:30 p.m.    SIMRAN KAUR - South Asia Cultural Dance

1:40 p.m.    WASHINKAN KENDO DC - Kendo Martial Arts Demo

1:55 p.m.    MONGOLIAN DANCE - Mongolian Cultural Dance

2:00 p.m.    KAWAII KAIJU & FRIENDS – Dog Showcase

2:15 p.m.    SHAOLIN TEMPLE - Kung Fu Martial Arts Demo

2:30 p.m.    RAINA CHAN - Philippine Vocalist

2:45 p.m.    BMOREBOLLYWOOD - Bollywood Dance

2:50 p.m.    DI DIM SAE KOREAN INSTITUTE - Korean Cultural Dance

3:10 p.m.    1PICK - K-Pop Dance

3:30 p.m.    EVELYN MEI - Sword Dance / Kung Fu

3:40 p.m.    CHIN DAIKO - Taiko Drums

3:55 p.m.    THE LION'S DEN - Hip Hop/Zumba Instruction

4:05 p.m.    INDRANI DAVALURI – Hip Hop/Spoken Word

4:25 p.m.    S.N.R.G. - Philippine Singers – R&B

4:40 p.m.    WRIZZARDS - Philippine Singers – R&B

5:00 p.m.    SOUL BROTHERS - Philippine Singers – R&B

5:30 p.m.    BUFFER TIME/D J MUSIC - Philippine Singers – R&B