Panda Fest, one of the world’s largest outdoor Asian food and culture festivals, is making a stop in Cincinnati for the first time.
The inaugural Cincinnati festival is expected to feature more than 90 food vendors serving 200+ Asian street food offerings, 30+ merchandise vendors, traditional and contemporary cultural performances, interactive activities and Panda Fest’s signature panda-themed experiences when it runs from October 16 to 18 at Smale Riverfront Park.
“We’re excited to bring Panda Fest to Cincinnati for the first time and introduce the community to an experience that celebrates Asian food, culture and creativity in a fun and welcoming way,” said Xuan “BiuBiu” Xu, founder of Panda Fest. “Cincinnati has such a strong food and festival culture, and Smale Riverfront Park provides an incredible setting to bring people together. We hope guests will come ready to discover new flavors, enjoy the performances, support local and national vendors and leave with a deeper appreciation for the diversity of Asian cultures.”
Launched in 2024, Panda Fest has expanded into a multi-city touring festival with events nationwide and more than 500,000 attendees. Cincinnati joins a growing list of host cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Dallas, Seattle, Austin, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, Houston and more.
Food will be at the center of the Panda Fest experience, giving attendees a chance to sample dishes and culinary traditions from across Asia.
Past and returning Panda Fest vendors have served favorites including candied hawthorn tanghulu, secret-recipe king squid, mochi donuts, soufflé pancakes, dumplings, grilled eel, shrimp tempura, and shaobing filled with chicken, lamb, beef or pork. Food items generally range from $7 to $25, and each participating vendor must offer at least one item priced under $10.
Tickets are on sale now at the official Panda Fest website.
