AAPI Heritage Festival

The AAPI Heritage Festival is an event dedicated to celebrating the diversity in Asian and Pacific culture. This is an opportunity for everyone to learn about what makes the AAPI community.

In response to the rise in anti-Asian violence and hate, our community has fought for our right to exist by protesting, patrolling, supporting the enacting of new laws, challenging our political leaders to do better, forming coalitions, community organizing, and much more. Now, it is time for us to celebrate our collective resilience, diverse backgrounds, cultural heritage at our finale event for AAPI Heritage month.  

We boldly and joyfully take pride in what makes not only our AAPI community as a whole unique but also, the differences within our community.  This celebratory event recognizes the beautiful tapestry of the various cultures, languages, art, and traditions that make up our community, which when weaved together make us stronger. 

As a part of our mission of uplifting Asian and Pacific American voices, CVC was asked to organize the 2022 AAPI Heritage Festival in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown by several members of the community. 

The festival will take place along Grant Avenue, between Sacramento and Clay Street Saturday June 4, 1pm-6pm In addition to demonstrating the amazing diversity of Asian and Pacific culture, one of the key goals of the festival is to highlight local Asian and Pacific American talent as well as small businesses.

Why Chinatown?

Chinatown was selected as the location of this year’s AAPI Heritage Festival in recognition of its historic place; much of the Asian diaspora came through San Francisco, ultimately landing in the area known as Chinatown. The area surrounding modern-day Chinatown was populated with people arriving from many Asian countries; these areas have been erased by pressures stemming from systemic racism, gentrification, and urban renewal. Despite the forces that seek to silence our communities, it is important to note that Chinatown has been a place that was built upon diverse AAPI voices. Many of the local residents and business owners can trace their heritage back to numerous Asian countries, including (but not limited to) Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, etc. By having Chinatown be the site of this celebratory event, we hope to amplify the voices from each of our unique AAPI cultures.