For over 20 years, the Tallahassee community has gathered to celebrate Asian culture and all its diverse richness at the Experience Asia Festival.
The annual celebration, hosted by the Asian Coalition of Tallahassee, brings people together to embrace a day filled with Asian food, culture, music, art, performances and most importantly, community. The team is running it back this year from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Tom Brown Park.
“We just want to recognize the Asians that live in this community, and you know everybody wants to brag about their ancestry. We’re just the same way,” said Aurora Hansen, one of the event organizers and secretary for the coalition, in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
“We are very proud of who we are, but we’re also proud that Tallahassee has embraced us.”
Hansen emphasized that this family-oriented event continues to grow as the community embraces it. When it started over two decades ago, the event was hosted at the Chain of Parks downtown; as thousands began to show up, the event was relocated to Tom Brown Park to accommodate the larger crowds.
“People in Tallahassee, and different parts of Florida, and the Big Bend area… have been very surprised because Tallahassee is so little compared to these big cities and stuff, but we were able to maintain the growth of Experience Asia because we try and bring in different kinds of things,” she said.
She mentions performers paying their own way to Tallahassee to perform and the new features they add on each year to make each festival better than the last.
“It’s not just about Asian cultures. We promote everybody that would like to come, so even though it says Experience Asia, we work with a lot of different cultural organizations in town, and we support them as well,” restaurateur Viet Vu told the Democrat.
Tallahassee dance artist Sarah Peng will be participating in the Experience Asia festival on Sept. 26, 2026.
Vu, who has attended the festival since his undergraduate days, said he’s happy to be part of the planning committee, specifically its hospitality arm, where he collaborates with local restaurants like LINK Sausages and Beer. It is bringing a “Bahn Mi,” Vietnamese-style sausage. Also, Ma’s Diner and Smorgasbord Catering will introduce fusion-style dishes with Asian influences.
He also likes to introduce new elements to the festival each year. This year’s festivities call for a beer garden. “It gets a little warm out there. Cold beer doesn’t hurt to go along with some of that Asian food, especially all the stuff that’s getting grilled and fried out there,” Vu said.
Take a look at what other food spots are in this year’s lineup.
Food vendors in attendance include:
Chubby Rice, a pop-up brand specializing in Japanese onigiri is now available every Saturday at Ology Brewing Co. in Midtown Tallahassee.
LINK Sausages and Beer is located on Thomasville Road.
This article includes previously reported information. Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening, special deals, or upcoming events? Let me know at ksanford@tallahassee.com. You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant profile.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Experience Asia Festival brings global flavors to Tallahassee