Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration Kicks Off at Seattle Center

The Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest, dance groups, martial arts, music and more are in store at the API Heritage Month Celebration this year. 

By: Apr. 19, 2022
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Seattle Center Festál continues with the Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration on May 1, the first day of National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Following last year's virtual festival, this year features five hours full of programming in the Seattle Center Armory. The Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest, dance groups, martial arts, music and more are in store at the API Heritage Month Celebration this year.

Working to promote AAPI culture, heritage and contributions for current and future generations along with the general public, the festival aims to give space to Asian and Pacific Islanders to share the traditions they have preserved.

The program begins at noon with the International Lion Dance Team and opening remarks, and wraps up with Kaze Daiko Taiko and closing remarks. In between, MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective, Huayin Performing Arts Group, Halau Hula Ka Lei Mokihana | Ka Ua Noe, UWFASA Sayaw, Nihkil Bagga Band, Wu Shu Martial Arts, UW Vietnamese Student Association Dance Troupe, Live2Dance Seattle and The Kompany will perform on stage.

"The Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration is an event dedicated to celebrating the unique and distinct AAPI cultures and communities that help make Seattle special," said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. "As the first day of National Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, there could not be a better way to uplift Seattle's AAPI communities and stand together as a united One Seattle."

The Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest, named for the late longtime chair of the festival and community activist, will begin at 2 p.m., featuring chefs from nine local restaurants and bakeries. Cultural performance videos will also be shown, and local author Cindy Wong-Li, will do a children's book reading of her book, Starhug.

"Festál is all about celebrating cultures that make up the city of Seattle," said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams. "Seattle Center is proud to host a day that encompasses so many Seattleites and their cultures under the roof of the Armory."

More information is available on the API Heritage Month Celebration website.



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