Asian American Resource Center Ushers in AAPI Heritage Month with CelebrASIA

Honor Austin’s Asian American community at the annual event featuring musical performances and cultural activities

By Lainey Gonzales

May is the peak of spring. A time for new blooms, prolonged sunlight and fresh starts. A season synonymous with joy.

May is also recognized as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, something that the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) also believes is synonymous with joy.

This is one of the many reasons why the AARC organizes CelebrASIA, their annual festival that is free and open to the public. Returning in-person for the first time in two years on Saturday, May 14, the event will be packed with performances, food and cultural activities.

“Our mission at the AARC is to create a space of belonging and healing for Asian American communities and beyond,” says Bianca Xoyamayagua-Galvan, the Acting Culture and Arts Education Manager for the AARC.

The organization has done just that by rallying together an impressive variation of local AAPI artists. The festival’s performances will range from musical acts, to traditional Chinese Lion dancing and yo-yo tricks, and even Austin’s very own Korean Dance Crew.

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“It’s a real honor to be included in this event because growing up in a lot of different communities where there weren’t Asians, I myself want to be exposed to the culture,” says CelebrASIA performer Lara Price. “It’s going to be special for me as an Asian American just to connect with other artists in the community.”

Price will be bringing along her seven-piece soul blues outfit, Lara Price Band, as a part of the day’s many celebrations.

Aside from outstanding performances and delicious cuisines, the event will also be an opportunity for the Austin community to learn more about the AARC’s Phase II Expansion Plan, which includes the creation of a brand new Performing Arts Center. The architects for the center will be at the festival to answer questions and show off the latest project updates.

This expansion will bring along even more events for Austin’s AAPI community to celebrate and share their beautiful traditions.

“It’s been such a challenging two years with the pandemic and all of the racial violence against AAPI communities, so it is really important to be able to reconnect, to have these safe spaces and to be able to express our culture, our talents, our skills, all of the things that our communities bring to our Austin community and American culture in general,” says Xoyamayagua-Galvan.

Whether you are a member of the AAPI community or not, all are encouraged to attend CelebrASIA on May 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Asian American Resource Center, located at 8401 Cameron Road.

To learn more, visit the AARC website and RSVP via Eventbrite.