Celebrating AAPI Heritage at Sammons Park

Colorful, festive and fun! That’s how hundreds of visitors to the second annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Family Weekend on Saturday, May 18 at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The event, held in collaboration with the Dallas Police Department Office of Community Affairs, was a colorful and festive celebration of AAPI Heritage Month featuring a range of activities, artisanal vendors and exciting performances.

Visitors used a “Snack Passport” in Sammons Park to explore a wide range of authentic cuisines from India, Turkey South Korea, Indonesia and China. And vendors were excited to share more about their traditions.

“Representing Turkish culture, we proudly expressed our rich heritage through delicious food, traditional clothing, and captivating and interactive traditional water marbling art,” said Beril Berk, Program Director of the Dialogue Institute of Dallas. “We are grateful to the organizers for creating such a vibrant and inclusive space for us to come together and appreciate the richness of cultural heritage.”

Families also enjoyed traditional and contemporary music and dance performances, while martial artists showed off their combat prowess and cultural traditions, including a traditional Dragon Dance. Artists sold handmade jewelry, traditional AAPI apparel, and offered arts and crafts and other activities.

“The positive response was overwhelming,” said Dr. Sharon Gou, Associate Director of the University of Texas at Dallas Center for Asian Studies. “It was a pleasure to see so many people enjoying and engaging with our Chinese snacks, games, calligraphy writing, and museum collection showcase. We truly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the community through such meaningful activities.”

“This event was such a vibrant and welcoming celebration of AAPI culture for residents from across the region,” said Ahila Gulasekaram, Education and Community Engagement Manager at the Center. “We strive to welcome diverse audiences and embrace all cultural artforms, and it was really heartwarming to see the broader AAPI community converge at the Center for this worldly event.”

More photos from the event can be found on the AT&T Performing Arts Center YouTube.

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