News Summary
Cleveland’s Edgewater Park will host the West Side Block Party, its first Southeast Asian Festival. Featuring over 50 local vendors and performers, the event celebrates the vibrant cultures of the Southeast Asian community amid the recognition of East and Southeast Asian American Heritage Month. Co-founded by local residents, the festival highlights the significant contributions of Asian Americans while promoting cultural understanding. Attendees can enjoy diverse performances and traditional cuisines, making this festival a milestone for community engagement and inclusion.
Cleveland is set to host its first-ever Southeast Asian Festival, known as the West Side Block Party, this weekend at Edgewater Park. The festival aims to celebrate the vibrant cultures of the Southeast Asian community and is open to all members of the community.
The West Side Block Party will feature over 50 local vendors, performers, and community groups, showcasing a variety of traditions. This event coincides with September, recognized as East and Southeast Asian American Heritage Month, highlighting the significant contributions of Asian Americans to the cultural landscape of the United States.
Ohio’s Asian population has grown significantly over the past two decades, more than doubling to exceed 300,000. This demographic shift underscores the importance of cultural events like the West Side Block Party, which serves to unite diverse Asian communities under one celebration.
The festival is a first for the area and was co-founded by Cleveland residents Daruny Mounthanivong and Sunda Tan, both of whom grew up on the city’s west side. Mounthanivong, whose parents immigrated from Laos seeking a better life, expressed a strong desire to create a platform that connects first-generation Americans with their roots and one another.
This year’s event also marks the 50th anniversary of a significant migration wave of Southeast Asian refugees that began in 1975, making it a poignant occasion for attendees to reflect on the past while looking forward.
The festival’s promotional materials, particularly the flyer designed by Thao Nguyen, have been translated into multiple languages to foster inclusivity and celebrate diversity within the community. The festival will highlight a range of cultures, including those from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, allowing attendees to experience the unique traditions associated with each of these regions.
Local artists and performers, such as Ryan Cordero, will participate in the event, offering a rich array of performances that include hip-hop and traditional Asian American acts. This diverse lineup aims to represent various cultural backgrounds and celebrate the artistic contributions of each community.
Among the local vendors, Chun Wong, owner of Mooncat Boba Cafe, will provide hand-crafted beverages at the festival. Wong moved to Ohio from Hong Kong at a young age and emphasizes that the festival serves as an opportunity for attendees to learn about and appreciate Asian traditions. This sentiment resonates with the festival’s goal of promoting cultural understanding and appreciation among all community members.
As the West Side Block Party unfolds at Edgewater Park, it promises to be a groundbreaking event that not only brings together diverse cultures but also fosters a sense of belonging and community spirit among Cleveland’s growing Asian population.
Overall, the West Side Block Party is more than just a festival; it is a celebration of identity, resilience, and the shared experiences of Asian Americans, inviting all Cleveland residents to participate in its vibrant cultural tapestry.
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Additional Resources
- Spectrum News1: Southeast Asian Festival Cleveland
- Wikipedia: East and Southeast Asian American Heritage Month
- News 5 Cleveland: Cleveland Asian Festival
- Google Search: Asian American heritage events in Cleveland
- Fresh Water Cleveland: What to Expect at the 2025 Cleveland Asian Festival
- Google Scholar: Southeast Asian festival Cleveland
- Axios: AAPI Heritage Bus Stop in Asiatown
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Asian American history
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
