Charlotte Celebrates Asian Festival’s 25th Anniversary
The first Asian Festival was organized under the leadership of Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce founder and chair, Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun, in 2000 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte.
The purpose of the Festival was to unite all Asian communities in the Charlotte to celebrate the Asian-Pacific Heritage Month of May. Attendance at the Festival continued to grow in the ensuing years, drawn by the colorful and diverse cultural presentations, food, and retail selections. After a few years at the then-Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Atrium, the Asian Festival moved to its current location at Ramsey Creek Park in 2006 to accommodate the new Dragon Boat Festival Race. The combined festivals continue to grow as the Carolinas’ premier Asian cultural event.
The Dragon Boat race is an exciting team competition. An important part of the Chinese traditional calendar, Dragon Boat racing originated over 2,300 years ago on the life-sustaining rivers of southern China.
Recognized as one of the Southeast’s top May events, the Charlotte Asian Festival returned for its 25th anniversary on Saturday, May 17 at Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman. Organized by the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC), Charlotte Dragon Boat Association (CDBA), Asian American Foundation for the Carolinas (publisher of AsiaCarolinas.org), Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, and Visit Lake Norman, and supported by sponsors, vendors, and volunteers, the annual festival honors Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month with a vibrant celebration of culture, tradition, and unity.
This FREE annual family-oriented event is a celebration of Asian cultures. The festival welcomes the Asian and non-Asian community in and around Mecklenburg County and throughout the Carolinas. The next festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Festival Highlights
Parade of Nations – A colorful kick-off featuring Charlotte’s Asian communities.
“The Search” for The Best of Asian Festival Performing Arts – Now in its 5th year, this juried contest, founded by Dr. Nini Bautista, showcases top-tier talent.
Marketplace & Street Food – An expanded vendor area featuring retail, cultural immersion, wellness, kids' crafts, and authentic Asian cuisine.
Dragon Boat Race – North Carolina’s largest team event marks its 20th anniversary with new race divisions.
Festival Timeline
Key events in the history of the Charlotte Asian Festival
The Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce is established by Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun, Founding President.
The first Asian Festival is held on Saturday, May 6 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte, organized by Dr. Ki-Hyun and Dr. Sunny Chun, Attorney Lena Chun, Linda Yu, and Andrea Lee, to connect the Asian community and promote Asian businesses.
The festival introduces a new competition: “Miss Asia Festival” (later “Ms. Asia Carolinas”). “It was not based on beauty only,” says Dr. Nini Bautista, Co-Chair of the festival and founder of the Miss Asia Festival. “It was their community involvement, their talents, and their advocacy of their culture. That’s how they became prouder and more aware of who they were.”
The Charlotte Asian Festival moves from Marshall Park to the Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Atrium with a broadening fundraising scope.
CAACC proposes its top three community-building initiatives to Crossroads Charlotte and receives strong endorsement to launch a Dragon Boat event. A Canadian national team coach is retained to advise the planning team. Ramsey Creek Park is identified as the best event site.
The Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival is launched at Ramsey Creek Park, Cornelius, NC in conjunction with the relocated Charlotte Asian Festival.
CAACC Board approves the formation of the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association (CDBA) to continue its effort to grow the popular team-based cross-cultural activity throughout the Carolinas.
The month of May is settled on as the annual date of the Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festivals, in order to celebrate National Asian Pacific Heritage Month.
The “Ms Asian Festival” competition is expanded to “Ms Asia Carolinas”—expanding the age requirement to include younger and older candidates and representatives.
Dr. Nini Bautista founds the “Asian Music & Dance Fest” for Asian Americans of all ages. The first winner is Evan Xie, a 9-year-old piano virtuoso, who also performs his winning Bach concert at a red carpet event in Hollywood as part of his prize.
CAACC celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Charlotte Asian Festival on Saturday, May 18.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, organizers postpone the 2020 Charlotte Asian and Dragon Boat Festival to ensure public safety.
After being postponed twice by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Asian and Dragon Boat Festival returns to Ramsey Creek Park on Saturday, October 23.
In order to engage youth in promoting, preserving, and sharing their Asian cultural heritage, Dr. Nini Bautista launches “Best of Asian Festival Performing Arts” as a replacement competition for the “Asian Music & Dance Fest.”
After two consecutive festivals are held in October, the Asian and Dragon Boat Festival returns to May, with the festival taking place on Saturday, May 13.
The Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
A History of Cultural Competitions
Dr. Nini Bautista, Co-Chair of the Charlotte Asian Festival, founded the juried cultural competitions held at the Festival in order to engage youth in promoting, preserving, and sharing Asian cultural heritage—including the current “Best of Asian Performing Arts.”
The Search
for the Best Performing Arts
2022–present
2025
1st Place
Bamboo flute & Erhu Performance
Jian Meng Wang & Xuemei Liu
2nd Place
Charlotte Chinese Academy Dance Team
3rd Place
Empress Dance Team/ Hmong community
Special Award
Nachbaliya Indian Dance Academy
2024
1. First Place / India
Kathak Dance
Naatyajali School of Dance
Ms. Rugmini Sreejith & Dance Team
2. Second Place / Thailand
Menaral Buchayuni
Thai Dance( solo)
Ms. Andear Saiyatsathit
3. Third Place / Cambodia
Moon Love Dance ( solo)
Ms. Srey Rath
4. Honorable Mention / China
Cawei Dance
Charlotte Chinese Academy
Ms. Isabel Huang & Dance Team
2022
Champions
Filipina Dance Team
Asian Music & Dance Fest
2016–2021
2018
Commy Jiang/ China
2017
Christian Antonio/ Filipino
2016
Evan Xie/ China
Miss Asian Festival/Asia Carolinas
2003-2015
2014
Frances Clare Rebollo / Filipina
Lynn Nicole Lee / Chinese
Bella Fauzi / Indonesia
Sophia Escobal/ Filipina / Ms. Scholarship
Zuri Wong/ Hongkong / Ms. Talent
2013
Nupur Charyalu / Indian
Julia Gong / Chinese
Rizka Zahrro/ Indonesia / Ms Scholarship
Allysa Abalos/ Community Service / Filipina Representative
June Nean / Cambodia / Cultural Advocate
Judy Wu/ China / Ms Talent
2012
Monique Tiamzon / Filipina
Auria Fauzi / Indonesian
2011
Ms Asia Carolinas
Genevieve Cordery / Filipina American
Caroline Bahar / Indonesian
Tiffani Dang / Vietnamese
2010
Leslie Rose Esparagoza / Filipina
Puja Shah / Indian
Porntip Saiyatsathit / Thai
2009
Athidi Guthikondi / Indian
Pooja Kilgore / Indian
Kelsey Waddell / Filipina
2008
Joanna Miranda / Filipina
Monica Kweman/ Indonesian
Angela Yun/ Chinese
2007
Grace Whitt / Filipina
Monthawee Eileen Klaiklung / Thai
Sophia Zhang / Chinese
2006
Jacqueline Fallar / Filipina
Grace Lertserikul / Thai
Zion Ko now Dr Lamm / Korean
2005
Emily Justin Supil / Filipina
Linda Amazon Philavanh / Thai
Brithny Boyue Zhang ? Chinese
2004
Bao Tran Le / Vietnamese
Camille Mangana tied with
Chia king Melody Yuan
2003
1st Prize Michelle Pak / Korean
2nd Prize Victoria Lynn Penilla / Filipina
3rd Prize Angela Chang / Chinese