4 Kansas City events celebrating Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in May
May marks the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Kansas City has plenty of events to celebrate the cultures and their people all month long.
The observance originally lasted for 10 days in May starting in 1979 before Congress expanded it to a month in 1990.
May was chosen to honor the immigration of the first Japanese citizens to the United States on May 7, 1843, according to The Library of Congress. It was also chosen to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, much of which was built by Chinese immigrants.
Festivals, art exhibits and themed giveaways are just a few ways Kansas City is celebrating. Here’s what you can do for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Taste of AAPI Food & Cultural Festival
The fourth annual Taste of AAPI Food & Cultural Festival happens from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 3, in the West Bottoms as a part of their First Friday weekend celebration. The free festival showcases authentic foods from Asians and Pacific Islanders with items from more than 20 vendors in the area, along with dance troupes from Tahiti, Thai, Hmong and Filipino backgrounds.
2024’s event saw over 5,000 visitors, and organizers for the festival are expecting more to attend Saturday.
The event is located at West 14th and Hickory streets in the West Bottoms.
Remembering Saigon
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam War, and from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday May, 4, the Don Bosco Community Center, 526 Campbell St., is hosting an event with the Vietnamese American Community of Greater Kansas City and local nonprofit Hella Good Deeds, honoring the soldiers and civilians who survived and lost their lives during the war
Remembering Saigon is a free event, and visitors can reserve their spot online. The event looks at the end of Vietnam War, which resulted in a mass exodus of South Vietnamese people seeking safety from the new communist government of North Vietnam, who captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. Many refugees ended up in the Kansas City area.
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Night
The Kansas City Royals are hosting their Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Night on Wednesday, May 7, when they play the Chicago White Sox at 6:40 p.m. Visitors can buy themed tickets, which gives them an exclusive Asian American & Pacific Islander Sluggerrr Bobblehead.
The bobbleheads are only distributed inside Gate A, and the Royals are asking fans who buy a themed ticket to arrive before the second inning to pick up the item. Gate A opens at 5 p.m.
Tickets can be bought online and start at $29 for a seat in the View Outfield section, which is in the upper level of the stadium. A parking pass to the stadium costs $21 online.
The Art of Being AANHPI
Local Vietnamese coffee shop Café Cà Phê hosts its fifth annual festival Saturday, May 31, the last day of the month. The celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. and continues all day long in its new location, the 18th and Vine District. The festival recognizes all cultures in the community, including Asian Americans, South Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
The Art of Being AANHPI is part of the celebration at the Zhou B Art Center, 1801 E. 18th St., where visitors can see open studios of resident Zhou B Artists, a fashion show, performances on the main stage and an indoor art gallery dedicated to artists in the AAPI community and a live communal art piece for visitors to contribute.
An outdoor vendor’s market will feature over 50 local businesses and food trucks from Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders will be on site during the festival.
Tickets can be bought online. Admission for guests is:
- $12 for ages 18 and up
- $5 for ages 5-12
- Free for kids ages 5 and under
