AAPI Fest Houston: A community festival focused on blending the AAPI community and beyond
Written by Julieta Torres | May 20, 2026
Photo by Julieta Torres
May is recognized as the official month to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures bringing many celebrations and festivals to the Houston area. The AAPI Fest, a collaboration between OCA of Greater Houston & Tokyo X, aimed to unite the various rich and vibrant cultures of the AAPI communities.
OCA of Greater Houston is the local chapter that focuses on AAPI advocacy and engagement. Bringing resources such as voting assistance, cultural arts organizing, promotion of AAPI month and restaurant week which highlights AAPI owned restaurants in the Houston area.
Photo by Julieta Torres
The festival brought over 100 vendors including food, arts and entertainment to the park. Food vendors lined the festival grounds offering dishes and sweets such as tanghulu, boba tea, Vietnamese coffee, grilled meat skewers and traditional Filipino style chicken. Other vendors included small businesses selling handmade art inspired by AAPI culture such as keychains, stickers, prints and clothing.
The main stage was set up in the basketball court of the park where various performances took place. Starting off with Tropical Rhythms, a Houston based Hawaiian & Philippines dance group. The group performed traditional Hawaiian hula dances and encouraged the crowd to dance with them and feel the rhythm of the music, similar to the waves of the ocean. The next performers, Unity Lion Dance, took over the area with their lion and dragon dance. The individual lions made their way through the crowd and spread good luck by engaging with the crowd and festival goers. Unity Lion Dance, a non-profit organization, focuses on empowering people to learn and promote lion & dragon and martial arts throughout Houston.
The most anticipated performer of the festival, Gun Boi Kaz, came on stage and hyped up the crowd. A Korean-American singer based in Arizona, Gun Boi Kaz blends hip-hop, pop and punk musical genres to create his own unique sound. He smiled at the crowd, thanking them for showing up for him, even if they didn't know him or his music. He performed his most recent single "Shine” as fans sang along with him. As the final event of the festival, Gun Boi Kaz held a small meet & greet where fans could purchase merchandise, take selfies and get a chance to interact with him.
Photo by Julieta Torres
The AAPI Festival brought together the many cultures that make the AAPI community unique to the Houston area, with a mix of food, arts, culture and performances.
Stay updated with AAPI Fest Houston: @aapifest.htx
