7 hours ago - Things to Do
Panda Fest brings Asian culture to San Diego
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The outdoor Panda Fest coming to San Diego has sold out in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Seattle and Philadelphia. Photo: Courtesy of Panda Fest
Panda Fest, a massive Asian food and culture festival, is taking over Waterfront Park on Saturday and Sunday.
The big picture: The two-day, family-friendly event was created by the founders of Dragon Fest, which is recognized as one of the largest Asian cultural festivals in the U.S.
- Panda Fest is coming to San Diego for the first time and has drawn sold-out crowds in other cities.
- The large local Asian community and zoo's giant pandas were part of the reason to bring the celebration here, founder BiuBiu Xu told Axios.
What to expect: Try bites from more than 80 local and national food vendors offering more than 200 dishes (think street food and viral desserts) from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
- About 30 merch booths will be selling crafts, clothes and accessories.
- There will also be live performances and Instagram-worthy panda attractions like a 15-foot inflatable panda, face painting and a bounce house.
If you go: Tickets are $20 (VIP tickets are $43).
- Sign up for time slots from 10am-10pm on Saturday and 10am-8pm on Sunday.
