Celebrate the many Asian cultures of metro Phoenix at these 3 October festivals

Laura Latzko
·5 min read

October is a busy month throughout metro Phoenix, with the weather turning lovely and people eager to get back outdoors.

Three festivals celebrating Asian cultures throughout the month will give insights into the breadth and depth of the Valley's Asian communities.

During these celebrations, attendees have the chance to honor their heritage and learn about customs, foods, music and dance styles, arts and clothing.

Here's what to know about the Otsukimi Moon Viewing Festival, the Original Arizona Asian Festival and the Chandler Asian Festival.

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Phoenix: Otsukimi Moon Viewing Exhibit

In Japan, moon gazing is a tradition dating to the Heian period, 794-1185, when aristocrats gathered to admire the beauty of the moon, share poetry and play music.

In honor of this tradition, the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix will hold its annual Otsukimi moon viewing event Oct. 8-9. Guests can walk the lantern-lit paths at night, and the space will be decorated with large calligraphy scrolls. Here are highlights of the event:

  • Ken Koshio and members of Kenzoo will perform taiko drumming.

  • Jin Soku-shin will play the bamboo flute.

  • Attendees can get their names written in calligraphy.

  • There will be ikebana flower arrangements by Ping Wei of Sogetsu Ikebana, a bamboo art installation and candle display, a kimono exhibit from Junko Horton and a traditional knitting display from Mika Okano.

  • A sommelier from Ozekisake will lead a sake lecture and samplings.

Guests can try okonomiyaki pancakes and oden fish cake stew. The gift shop will have prepackaged snacks such as JagaRico, My Pote and Karamucho chips.

Sweet treats include cake rolls, mochi rice cakes and Japanese cheesecake. Ramune and Shizuoka sodas, Kimino juice and matcha, genmaicha, hojicha and jasmine teas will be for sale.

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The tea house will be decorated with a kimono display and ikebana arrangements with pampas grass and dango. A musical performance will feature the koto, a board zither instrument with 13 strings, and the niko, a two-stringed, bowed instrument. This will be a rare chance for guests to go inside the tea house, which is usually closed to the public.

When: 5-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9.

Where: Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, 1125 N. Third Ave.

Admission: $30, $20 for ages 6-17, $30 additional for tea house activities.

Details: 602-274-8700, https://japanesefriendshipgarden.

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Scottsdale: Original Arizona Asian Festival

In its 25th year, the Original Arizona Asian Festival highlights 19 cultural groups from around the Valley. Attendees can learn about such cultures as Bangladeshi, Chinese, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Karen, Persian, Korean, Japanese, Laotian, Indian, Malaysian, Myanmar, Indonesian, Taiwanese, Pakistani and Thai cultures. The event is presented by the Arizona Asian American Association.

The festival will have traditional and pop music and dance performances, including taiko drumming, lion dances, classical Indian dance and traditional Thai and Laotian styles. There will be a special performance by a K-pop artist from South Korea.

Food options include Filipino barbecue, Indian curry and naan, shaved ice, boba drinks and Japanese food.

As part of a Journey to Asia activity, guests can go to each booth and collect stamps to try to earn prizes. A Children’s Wonderland area will have Chinese paper folding crafts, a STEM straw rocket-making project, face painting, games, stickers and tattoos.

Other highlights include:

  • A fashion show with 100 costumes.

  • Shopping for clothing, jewelry, handcrafted items, souvenirs and gifts.

  • A Da Vinci surgical robot on display, which visitors can test out.

  • Korean, Chinese and Persian tea demonstrations.

  • A Chinese cultural fashion show.

  • A demonstration of the qi gong movement and meditation practice.

When: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

Where: Scottsdale Waterfront, 7025 E. Via Soleri Drive.

Admission: Free. Free parking is at 7000 E. Via Soleri Drive.

Details: https://www.arizonaasianfestival.org.

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Chandler Asian Festival

Chandler has one of the largest Asian American communities in metro Phoenix. In its second year, the Chandler Asian Festival highlights the traditions of many Asian cultures.

The event is presented by the city's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department and Arizona Asian Festivals Inc. James Park of Arizona Asian Festivals Inc. said he hopes the festival will help eliminate negative feelings toward Asian people and create unity among people of differing backgrounds.

Visitors can enjoy music, dance and martial arts demonstrations. Performances include modern and traditional versions of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Japanese and Cambodian music and dance. One performance will blend martial arts and K-pop music. The opening ceremony will feature taekwondo.

Attendees can learn about the Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai cultures in three "village" areas. Children will receive free battery-powered lanterns in the Vietnamese village. There will also be face painting and other activities for kids.

A runway fashion show will feature traditional clothing styles from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and India.

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Food trucks and booths will sell a variety of foods. A Filipino vendor will be making lechon, a type of roast pork belly, on site.

A marketplace will offer arts and crafts vendors and information on local resources. One booth will be dedicated to mental health education.

Raffles will benefit local veterans organizations and scholarships for high school students.

When: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30.

Where: Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler.

Admission: Free.

Details: https://www.chandleraz.gov.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Celebrate Asian culture in Phoenix at these October events