Siouxland Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 3

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing /14
A Celebration of Culture
By Peggy La
Group photo of Asian Fest’s amazing attendees and volunteers.
A celebration of culture, life, and community is
something that is both appreciated and necessary
in the eyes of those who aren’t always able to
showcase what defines them. In the warmth of
the June sun and under the always caring eyes of
George Sayavong watching from above, the annual
Asian Fest blooms and breathes along with the
culture celebrated there.
George Sayavong, one of the co-founders of Asian Fest, is
affectionately referenced as the balance and mediation with
the group. Without him, my fellow co-founder, I would’ve
given up multiple times due to the difficulty they faced
organizing the event. Many people they contacted were
hesitant to volunteer for the event, and finding people to
perform, cook, and attend became even more daunting.
However, George didn’t give up. George had a butterfly
effect. Everything he touched, blossomed. With his kind
touch, the festival became something to be proud of.
The Fest began as an idea that stemmed from my college
life in Des Moines, where I volunteered at CelebrAsian. After
returning to Siouxland and realizing that the community
didn’t have the same type of gathering, I brought the idea
up to George. With a broad smile and endless positivity, he
said, “Let’s do it!” and the planning began.
One of the challenges that presented itself was the
layout. How would they find a place where both food and
entertainment could be offered at once? Where would the
community be able to join together and feel connected?
I admit it took some time to figure out exactly how to lay
out the festival. It started with separate shelters that offered
different aspects of the festival. Still, it was difficult for guests
to grasp the entirety of the celebration when they had to
travel between two different shelters. The committee and I
realized that we bring the festival closer by creating a circle
with a single shelter so everyone could enjoy the festivities.
While Asian Fest is a day of fun, food, and performance,
the ultimate goal is to create an understanding and unity
between the Asian and non-Asian communities. As our
younger generation becomes Americanized, we typically
lose our culture. With the loss of culture and the gap between
nationality and traditions, Asian Fest aims to bridge the gap
and continue the traditions passed down from generation
to generation in various Asian cultures. Siouxland is home
to multitudes of Asian ethnicities: Chinese, Vietnamese,
Laotian, Indian, and others call Siouxland their home. With
the festival, we hope to connect them in a community they
can be proud of.
The Fest will also reach those who don’t have ties to the
Asian community. Pulling them into the festival creates an
understanding they might not have seen before and, with
the many opportunities to experience the culture, brings
them closer to a community they may not know.
FREE TO ATTEND
Saturday, May 27 | 12 pm to 4 pm
Yummi Blox Food Truck Lot
700 West 7th Street
Food available for purchase
Kids activities
Caricatures
Family fun event
Peggy La, owner of Yummi Blox and Hong Kong Supermarket.
Peggy is also the co-founder of the Siouxland Asian Festival,
serves on the Commission of Asian and Pacific Islanders for the
State of Iowa, is a member of the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory
Committee, and board member of Siouxland Public Radio.
Photo provided by Peggy La.