GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival is underway as thousands of attendees came to Calder Plaza on Saturday for the festival’s second day. 

People wore traditional Filipino dress and danced along to live music from a Filipino-American rock band, setting the mood as people browsed between vendors selling everything from Hmong cultural gifts, homemade Laotian Eggrolls, Pork Belly Ramen and T-shirts celebrating Asian American culture. 

“We want to welcome everyone here,” said organizer Ace Marasigan. “This is a place for us to belong. This place for us to introduce each other and learn from one another.”

Many vendors at the festival were local Asian American-owned businesses, along with various Asian American organizations and groups being represented. 

The main stage saw Taiko drummers, a fashion show and a K-Pop dance contest kick off the festival on Friday.

On Saturday, guests were treated to a Lion Dance, a Tae Keon Do demonstration, various local and traveling Asian American DJs and artists, topped off with traditional Filipino, Vietnamese, and Pacific Island dances.

“We have some contemporary acts in the beginning. We have Hawaiian dancers, we have Vietnamese performers, we have Laos and Filipino bands. It’s just gonna be so much fun,” said Marasigan.

Some attendees also came wearing traditional clothing, and said the festival is an opportunity to celebrate Asian-Pacific culture that has not always been present.

“Growing up I didn’t see a lot of Asian culture,” said Joslin Fish, who wanted to represent her Korean American heritage by wearing her Korean Hanbok. “It is really special to have this festival available to residents of Grand Rapids and West Michigan, so we can engage with cultures we wouldn’t have necessarily learned about, or found on our own.”

Chitzin and Heather Win were selling T-shirts with a variety of 15 different Asian flags paired with an American flag. Chitzin came to Michigan from Myanmar, and said he enjoys the festival for bringing so many backgrounds together.

“Not many people recognize when I say where I came from, they have to look at the map,” said Chitzin. “Having the opportunity to be recognized as a community, as a society in Grand rapids is huge for me.”

Wanting to make sure as many cultural groups can be recognized as possible, Chitzin and Heather had an option for people to custom order a shirt with their heritage if a shirt was not already available, and they would have it shipped for free. 

The festival ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The last day of the festival will see Hula dancing lessons, and the opportunity for fathers to learn and perform a Maori Haka in honor of Father’s Day. 

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