Asian Festival Starts Week-Long Celebrations at Daley Plaza

15^th Anniversary Brings in Cultural Performances and Food Trucks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHICAGO – (May 4, 2016) Chicago will kick-off the opening of spring events at Daley Plaza with the Asian American Festival Week on Monday, May 16 through Friday, May 20 hosted by the Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s Chinese Community.

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the outdoor showcase will invite Asian cultural merchandise vendors and musical stage performances. Chicago Lunchbox, PIKO and Yum Dum food trucks will park at the plaza to serve traditional and modern Asian cuisines. Daily performances will run from noon to 1 p.m.

On Monday, May 16, the Grand Opening Ceremony will commence with a cultural parade circling Daley Plaza with Korean Drummers and Chinese Lion Dancers, followed by an Asian traditional clothing fashion show on stage and the feeding of the Lions by Illinois’ elected officials, dignitaries and community leaders.

On Friday, May 20, the Closing Ceremony will have special performances with Chinese Lion Dancers, Filipino stick and blade performers, colorful cultural dances from the Lao and Pakistani communities, and more. Illinois’ elected officials, dignitaries, and community leaders will also be present.

Date:                                                      May 16 – May 20 at 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Daily

Grand Opening Ceremony:                 May 16 at 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Daily Noon Performances:                 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Location:                                               Daley Plaza

50 W. Washington St.

Admission:                                            Free & Open to Public

More Info:                                              www.aacchicago.org

Please let me know if you would like to have an interview with the AACC Festival Chairwoman Anne Shaw to talk about the developments and of the festival.

This event was sponsored by Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Country Financial, Lyft and Hanmi Bank.

Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) founded in 1983, is represented by over 16 cultures including the Bangladeshi, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Thai, and Vietnamese American communities. The Asian Lunar New Year Celebration helps celebrate these rich heritages and diverse histories. The AACC’s mission is to organize and promote equal opportunities in government, education, economic development, and international affairs in order to empower all Asian Americans. Nine of the communities (Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Thai and Vietnamese American) take turns hosting the Asian Lunar New Year Celebration on a rotating basis.

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Lily J. Kim
Managing Partner
Ascene Chicago
312-685-8655
lily@ascenechicago.com
Photos by Ascene Chicago