Best Midwest Asian Festivals

More than 2.7 million Asian Americans live in the Midwest, bringing a rich cultural history and diversity from countries like China, India, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. Asian festivals play a key role in showcasing this heritage, both during May—Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month—and other times. Thrill to dragon boat races, bustling night markets, dance contests, colorful parades, traditional music and regional cuisine. Asian festivals provide an opportunity not only for Asian Americans to honor their roots, but also for others to learn and engage with different cultures. Here’s a sampling of some of the best Asian festivals in the Midwest.

CelebrAsian, Des Moines

Iowa’s largest Asian fest returns for its 22^nd year (May 23-24). Hosted by the Iowa Asian Alliance, the 2025 event, CelebrAsian in Full Bloom, honors 50 years of Southeast Asian resettlement in the U.S. “To me, being ‘in full bloom’ means celebrating our growth and the deep roots of hope and resilience that ground us. With each generation, we bloom brighter, stronger and with greater purpose,” says Nu Huynh, executive director of the Iowa Asian Alliance. Experience Asia across 15 cultural villages including ones that focus on Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Lao culture. Highlights include lion dancing, a fashion show, music, cooking demos, table tennis and takraw tournaments, and food vendors with both authentic street eats and sweet treats. An average of 75,000 visitors come each year.

Ginza Holiday Festival, Chicago

The Ginza Holiday Festival, first held in 1956 to share Japanese culture through food, performances and crafts, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year (August 8-10, 2025). “The festival is an annual fundraiser for the Midwest Buddhist Temple—a welcoming space where members, friends, and the public can engage with Jodo Shinshu Buddhism,” says temple president Jason Matsumoto. “Ginza and festivals like it play a vital role in Chicago’s cultural landscape, a city built on the shoulders of immigrants from around the globe.” Expect to see groups that specialize in Minyo (traditional Japanese folk music and dance), Kendo (swordsmanship martial arts), Taiko (drumming) and more.

Columbus Asian Festival, Columbus, Ohio

Now in its 31st year, the Columbus Asian Festival is one of Central Ohio’s largest cultural events, drawing more than 150,000 visitors. Held over Memorial Day weekend (May 24–25, 2025) at Franklin Park, the free two-day celebration marks the end of AANHPI month with a showcase of Asian cultures through music, dance, art and both traditional and contemporary cuisine—including dishes from China, India, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Earlier in the month (May 18, 2025), the festival also hosts a popular dragon boat race along the Scioto River. “The Asian Festival has become a cherished community tradition in Central Ohio—bringing people together in a vibrant celebration of diversity, unity and resilience,” says Vincent Wang, Asian Festival Corporation board member.

Chinese Culture Days and Japanese Festival, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

Started in 1996 with the dedication of the Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden, Chinese Culture Days (May 3-4, 2025) is one of the largest and oldest festivals of Chinese culture in the Midwest. Held in collaboration with the nonprofit Chinese Culture Education and Services, the fest showcases traditional and modern Chinese music, entertainment, fashion and food. The Japanese Festival over Labor Day Weekend (August 30-September 1, 2025) draws about 50,000 visitors to watch sumo wrestling, martial arts, origami demonstrations, storytellers, and dance, as well as participate in a floating lantern ceremony and take candlelight walks in the 14-acre Japanese Garden. Several Japanese-American organizations in St. Louis partner with the garden to organize the festival.

Minnesota Songkran Festival, St. Paul

In Thailand, Songkran is the country’s most famous festival, held to mark the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. “The goal of the Minnesota Songkran Festival is ‘Songkran for All’—a celebration rooted in inclusivity, where people of all backgrounds can experience Thai culture’s warmth, beauty, and hospitality through music, dance, food, fashion and community,” says Korawan Muangmode, president of the state’s Thai Cultural Council. Just in its fourth year, the event, held on the grounds of the State Capitol May 10-11, is expected to attract up to 40,000 visitors. The program includes a monks’ blessing ceremony, papaya demo and tasting (audience participation welcome!), fashion show and international music concert. Festival organizers note that Minnesota has a long history with Thailand; many Southeast Asians found refuge in Thailand before coming to Minnesota. Today, the state is home to one of the largest populations of Hmong, Lao, Karen, Taidam, and other ethnic groups in the nation.

Chinese Mooncake Festival, Carmel, Indiana

Visitors can immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of China at the Chinese Mooncake Festival in mid-September (2025 date TBA). Held in Carmel in Hamilton County (30 minutes north of Indianapolis), the event focuses on Chinese performances, craft stations, interactive storytelling sessions—and, of course, mooncakes. Mooncakes, which symbolize unity and reunion, play an important role in Chinese Mid-Autumn Festivals. The round shape represents fullness and completeness, like a full moon, and the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival emphasizes family gatherings and togetherness. Mooncakes may be shared among family members or given as gifts.

Destination Asia Festival, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois

The Destination Asia Festival (August 2-3, 2025) highlights the ties between The Morton Arboretum and Asia, where many of the arboretum’s plants and trees originated. In addition to a robust lineup of music, dances, drumming and other entertainment, visitors can check out The Prairie State Bonsai Society’s exhibits of both mature bonsai trees and trees in training.  Festival-goers also often browse the arboretum’s Temperate Asia Collection, which includes plants from China, Japan, Korea, and Central and Western Asia. “The Morton Arboretum has strong ties to Asia through scientific inquiry, research and collaboration,” says special events manager Dana Rotz. “The Destination Asia Festival, one of the arboretum’s longest-running and most popular events, celebrates the years of research and study by showcasing talented performers, artists, and vendors from the local Asian community.”

Cleveland Asian Festival, Cleveland

At the annual Cleveland Asian Festival in the AsiaTown neighborhood (May 17-18, 2025), visitors can enjoy traditional music and dance as well as Asian cuisine from local restaurants and a World Marketplace with more than 100 vendors. The Asian Pop Cover Dance Competition is an audience favorite, with groups dancing to music selections from Bollywood, C-Pop, Filipino-Pop, K-Pop, Nepali Hip-Hop and more. Also popular: The Colors of Asia Fashion Exhibition, which dazzles with ethnic clothing from a variety of Asian countries. And the whole family can get involved in the Cosplay Showcase, where participants show off costumes reflecting Asian culture, including anime and manga.

Hmong Wausau Festival, Wausau, Wisconsin

More than 50,000 Hmong residents live in Wisconsin, and the Hmong Wausau Festival  (July 26-27, 2025) at the People’s State Bank Sports Complex is a lively celebration of Hmong culture that includes both competition and demonstrations. Experience Hmong traditions such as Qeej instrumental music; cheer on your favorite team at contests in flag football, soccer and volleyball; and see participants in the Mr. Hmong Royalty Talent Pageant show off their Hmong language skills and traditional attire. Food, dancing and fireworks cap off the event.

Night Markets, Around the Midwest

Night markets—known across Asia for their lively atmosphere, food scene, shopping and entertainment—are flourishing in the Midwest as well, especially during AANHPI month. Wichita will hold a night market May 24 at Equity Bank Park; Fargo, North Dakota, hosts its 4^th annual Asian Night Market May 23 at Fargo Air Museum. Des Plaines, Illinois, organizes Asian Night Market May 12 at Oakton College. Later in the summer, the Twin Cities is home to Little Mekong Night Market  June 28-29 at the Little Mekong Cultural District in St. Paul, as well as Asian Street Food Night Market on Rice Street June 14-15 and August 9-10.

Lantern Festivals, Around the Midwest

This year marks the third time Michigan’s John Ball Zoo has hosted the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival (April 9-June 15, 2025). Huge handcrafted Asian lantern displays illuminate a one-mile tour; zoo visitors stroll among colorful and elaborate dragons, butterflies and other creatures, as well as interactive elements such as illuminated swings. Inspired by lantern festivals held in China and other Asian countries (often part of Lunar New Year celebrations), these events are increasingly popular at U.S. zoos and other venues. Among the other places you’ll find them in the Midwest: Blank Park Zoo’s Wild Lights Festival in Des Moines (April 25-May 26, 2025); Potawatomi Zoo’s Zoo Luminate in South Bend, Indiana (March 19-May 25, 2025); and St. Louis Zoo’s Animals Aglow (March 12-May 11, 2025)