City: San Antonio, TX

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (210) 458-2224

Address: 801 E. Durango Blvd.

Description: The Asian communities of Texas are in the spotlight during this annual celebration of the Asian New Year. Sponsored by the Institute of Texan Cultures, the festival includes dance, music, food, and crafts. The ethnic cuisine served at the festival is a favorite part of the festivities; look for Chinese fried rice, Indian samosas (a fried filled snack), Japanese yakisoba (a noodle dish), Korean bulgogi (marinated beef) and kimchi (fermented vegetables), Malaysian/Singaporean beef and chicken satay, Filipino pancit rice noodles, Hawaiian/Polynesian almond cookies, and traditional Pakistani foods. The event also includes hands-­on activities featuring Asian crafts and traditions such as Chinese calligraphy, brush-­painting, paper-­cutting, and mah-­jong; Indian sari-­wrapping, rangoli (traditional Indian art), and palm-­reading; Japanese calligraphy and origami; Hawaiian/Polynesian hula-­dancing, tapa cloth–painting, and lei-­making; and Vietnamese fortune-­telling. Throughout the festival, local groups give demonstrations of yoga, martial arts, tai chi, and more. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 to 12, and $4 for seniors and military personnel; free for children 2 and under.