For a second consecutive year, Levitt Arlington and the Arlington Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council are teaming up to host the Arlington Asian Heritage Celebration, a free community event showcasing traditional and modern Asian cultures.
The celebration is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at the Levitt Pavilion in Downtown Arlington. Event highlights include an opening Lion Dance featuring Mayor Jim Ross, live music and dance performances, a sumo demonstration, poetry readings, and fashion shows. All performances will represent a panorama of Asian cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Mongolian, Japanese, Vietnamese and other Asian nations. Guests can also enjoy shopping from on-site vendors and purchase traditional Asian finger-food fare from event food trucks.
Mimi Cheung, who is co-chairing the event with Owen Gan, said the festival is part of ongoing efforts to promote positive interactions between Arlington’s near 30,000 Asian residents and other members of the Arlington community, as well as to increase awareness of the contributions of Asian culture and people.
“Even though we have a significant presence in the community, many Arlington residents have had limited opportunities to interact with Asian community members or Asian businesses, and they may not be aware that ‘Asian’ refers to many cultures, each with their own customs and traditions,” said Cheung. “The Levitt festival is an opportunity for Arlington's Asian residents to demonstrate cultural pride and showcase the richness of the Asian experience, and for other community members to learn more about this important segment of Arlington’s population.”
Levitt executive director Letatia Teykl said the Asian Heritage Celebration is the latest installment in the Levitt’s multicultural event series celebrating Arlington’s diversity.
“In similar fashion to our collaboration with the Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council, we also partner with the Arlington Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, the Mayor’s Latino Advisory Council, and the Mayor’s Muslim Advisory Council to host community celebrations throughout the year,” said Teykl. “This multicultural series is a wonderful complement to our regular live music series, which offers free concerts featuring a mix of high profile and up-and-coming artists performing a diverse range of music genres.”
The Asian Heritage Celebration will take place two weeks before the venue's 2023 spring season opener, which kicks off on Friday, April 28 with free performances by singer-songwriter Rachel Stacy and Even It Up - the Ultimate Heart Tribute Band, followed by the inaugural DreamFest on Saturday, April 29. Learn more about Levitt events at levittarlington.org or follow the Levitt on Facebook.
Event Tips
- Free parking is available around the venue, at City of Arlington facilities and throughout Downtown Arlington. Click here for a map.
- Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.
- Early arrival is recommended–there is a lot planned in a short time frame.
- Guests may bring coolers or drinks (but don’t miss out on delicious cuisine from the event’s food truck fleet).
- Well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome.
About the Levitt
Levitt Pavilion Arlington presents more than 50 free outdoor concerts a year with a broad-based concert calendar of professional musical artists, from world music to jazz and home-grown Texas country to hot Indie artists. The Levitt presents emerging talent and original artists from a range of music genres, many of them Grammy Award winners, as well as local musicians as part of the Levitt’s “Share the Stage” initiative promoting North Texas talent. Ticketed concerts and other special events are also produced by the Levitt Pavilion Arlington.
Noted as a signature destination and performing arts centerpiece for Downtown Arlington, The Levitt plays a significant role in Downtown Arlington’s designation as a Cultural District by the State of Texas and the recent designation as a Music Friendly Community by the Texas Music Office.
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