Food trucks will be cooking up authentic Asian dishes Saturday in Jacksonville’s Hemming Park at the second annual Asian Food Festival.
The event, which runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., celebrates Northeast Florida’s Asian culture through food, drink, music and dance.
Polynesian dancer Ashley Fordan will be performing during the festival with friend, musician Kalani Rose.
“As a Filipina I definitely wanted to represent Asian culture; represent the the Philippines; represent Polynesian culture; more specifically Hawaiian hula and Tahitian dance,” Fordan said.
At the same time as the food fest, the city is also hosting an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration across Laura Street from Hemming Park inside the Jacksonville Library. It’s organized by the mayor’s Asian-American Advisory Board, which works to promote city services among the city’s growing Asian-American community.
“We’re excited to bring back (the fest) this year and partner with the Mayor’s Asian American Advisor Board, which is really going to bring the cultural element of that community here locally to the event,” said Friends of Hemming Park Marketing Director Sarah Collins.