Asian American and Pacific Islander Festivals, Performances and Exhibits

A Guide to Asian American and Pacific Islander Festivals, Performances and Exhibits

A GUIDE TO ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVALS, PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITS

A Guide to Asian American and Pacific Islander Festivals, Performances and Exhibits

In the United States, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a cultural designation rather than a strict geographic classification. It is used to recognize the shared and diverse histories, identities, and contributions of people with roots in Asia and the Pacific Islands. The “Asian American” category broadly includes individuals with ancestry from East, Southeast, and South Asia, including countries such as India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and others. The “Pacific Islander” category includes Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Island populations from regions such as Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. In this context, “AAPI” is not meant to imply a single culture or uniform experience, but rather to highlight a wide range of communities that have shaped life in the United States through distinct histories, cultures, and contributions.

East Asia

China

Japan

South Korea

North Korea

Mongolia

Taiwan

Southeast Asia

Vietnam

Thailand

Philippines

Indonesia

Malaysia

Singapore

Myanmar

Cambodia

Laos

South Asia

India

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

Nepal

Bhutan

Maldives

Pacific Islands

American Samoa

Samoa

Guam

Fiji

Tonga

Palau

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, observed each May in the United States, recognizes the history, cultures, and contributions of people with roots in Asia and the Pacific Islands. The month highlights the role Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have played in shaping American society through science, education, government, business, food, the arts, and military service. The observance began as a week-long celebration established by Congress in 1978 before expanding to a full month in 1992. May was selected for historical reasons, including the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in May 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869, which relied heavily on the labor of Chinese immigrants. Today, communities across the country mark the month with cultural festivals, museum exhibits, educational programs, and public events that celebrate the diversity and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.