Red envelopes tease new Asian Glow Fest
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Look for these red envelopes. Photo: Courtesy of the City Market
The City Market is marking the start of the Lunar New Year with traditional red envelopes next Saturday — and teasing a new Asian street festival coming to Kansas City next month.
The big picture: The envelopes kick off the countdown to the first Asian Glow Fest KC, an event in March that will gather Kansas Citians in celebration of South Asian culture with food, art, and shopping.
Zoom in: The festival is organized by the people behind Saigon Night Market, a popular Florida street festival.
- Co-founder Ott Keung, a former Kansas Citian, said in a statement that bringing this event home honors his family and the "sense of togetherness I grew up with."
- They're partnering with Hella Good Deeds, a nonprofit arm of the Vietnamese coffee shop Café Cà Phé that has put on local festivals in the past.
- Other local collaborations include Dragon Wagon KC, Yummy Pho and Made Mobb.
What they're saying: "This festival is a big deal for Kansas City because it adds a different perspective, flavor, and vibe to Asian culture for Kansas Citians to experience," Béty Lê Shackelford, founder and executive director of Hella Good Deeds, tells Axios.
- "I am especially excited that an events organization of their size and success in Florida saw the potential in KC," Shackelford added.
Context: The Lunar New Year, which is celebrated this year from Feb. 17 to Feb. 27, includes the gift of red envelopes, typically containing money.
- Some of the City Market's envelopes will contain vouchers redeemable at Asian Glow Fest KC.
If you go: The red envelopes will be available at the farmers market Saturday and Feb. 28 from 9am–3pm while supplies last.
- The festival is scheduled for March 27–28 at the City Market. Attendance will be free.