Asian Festival On Main Coming To Old Town Fairfax On Sunday

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — When Wendy Wong first approached the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA) about doing something to celebrate the city's Asian population, she was thinking it would be just a small affair in front of her business on Main Street.

"I was looking to do something that was on a much smaller scale, but after talking to a couple of people, they said, 'This could be a really big thing and I think a lot of people would really enjoy and be enthusiastic in terms of supporting it and helping you bring your vision to fruition,'" said the owner of The Standard Barbershop.

At a time when there is some much anti-Asian sentiment across the country, Wong wanted to do something positive that celebrated the diversity among Asian cultures.

"I didn't want it to be one specific Asian ethnicity," she said. "I didn't want it to be a Chinese festival or a Thai festival. I wanted it to be showcasing everybody's arts, crafts, food and performances."

After months of planning by a team of small business owners, OTFBA members, and the City of Fairfax, Wong's little idea has grown into the Asian Festival on Main, a one-day, outdoor family event that organizers expect to bring around 5,000 people into Old Town on Sunday.

The festival runs from 12-8 p.m., in the heart of Old Town. The city will be closing off Main Street between University Drive and Chain Bridge Road, creating space for visitors to enjoy a variety of Asian foods, crafts, and cultural demonstrations.

Asian Festival on Main Schedule

• 12 p.m.: Lion Dance by Choywun, welcome remarks by a Fairfax City council member, and South Asian Singing & Percussions by The Band Khayaal
• 1 p.m.: Taichi "Sword Fighting" Martial Arts by True Taichi and Ribbon Dance by Chinese Dance Troupe
• 2 p.m.: Lion Dance percussion by Choywun and Chinese Zither Ensemble by Alice Gu-Zheng
• 3 p.m.: Yoyo Demonstration by ECS YoYo Ambassadors; Papillon Dog Drinks & Fashion Show by John and Beth Nolley; Proclamation by Fairfax Mayor David Meyer; and KPOP by GMU KSA Primary
• 4 p.m.: Japanese Sword Fight by Washinkan Kendo Club; Poestry, Bharatanatyam Dance and Singing by C4 Performance
• 5 p.m.: Bollywood Dance by Rhythmaya and Japanese Dance by Mayoikai
• 6 p.m.: Muay Thai Boxing by Singamsaab Muay Thai Team
• 7 p.m.: Hawaiian Dance by Hui O Ka Pua "L" Lima and Ukele by Hawaii State Society of Washington, D.C. Ukulele Hui
• 8 p.m.: Hip Hop by SNRG

Food vendors selling their wares Sunday include Toimoi Bakery, Gwenie's Pastries, Tibetan Food, Kay's Smoothies by Food Fest, Sarin Grill, Borden Marketing, Kindi Thai Crepe, Buddin' Bakery, Cafein by Dale Kim, Dadeak Maketto, Kokee Bubble Tea, Himalayan Soul Food, Mulan Dumplings, Chaat & More Indian, Taiwanese Baos, New Delight Gourmet, Aloha Poke, Bangkok House, Senberry, Eastwind, High Side, and Havabite.

General vendors and exhibitors setting up at the festival include GMU Campus Food and Beverage Network, Withered Fig LLC, kLuvCrafting, Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Zenmountainbrus, Paint Me! Paint Me!, The 1882 Foundation, Chinese Calligraphy, OSA Martial Arts Federation, SNRG, Henley Bounkhong, and a Notable Americans of Asian Descent installation by Sharon Clark Chang.