Celebrating culture: Asian and Pacific Islander Festival arrives in Oceanside

The Southern California Asian and Pacific Islander Festival will return to Oceanside’s Civic Center Saturday, honoring 20 Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature traditional performances and contemporary acts curated by local artists, along with cultural foods and beverages.

“Our team is thrilled to honor the legacy of community collaboration and collective service led by Umeke in 2023,” said Tuyen Nguyen, 2025 Project Director and festival co-founder. “We plan to bring back the festival with the same joy, vibrancy, and connection to create space for the community to showcase their talents, stories, and creativity.”

May is Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In 1977, Reps. Norman Y. Mineta, D-California, and Frank Horton, R-New York, introduced legislation to designate 10 days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. They were soon joined by Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, both D-Hawaii. The legislation was passed in October of that year, and in the following decades became the month-long celebration that it is Saturday.

Ilima Kam Martinez of Kuhai Halau O Ilima Pa Olapa Kahiko, shared her excitement to return as a traditional hula performer at the festival.

“Returning to the SoCal API Festival feels like coming home to a celebration with close friends,” she said. “As a halau rooted in Oceanside, we take pride in reflecting the diversity of our community through hula and embracing the cultures around us. This festival is a meaningful way for us to educate, connect, and give back to the place we love.”

The SoCal API Festival is free to attend and family-friendly. Portions of the event include a health and wellness area, martial arts arena, live mural painting, art exhibits, and cultural activities throughout the Civic Center Plaza and Pierview Way area.

“Being part of API Fest in Oceanside means a lot to me, coming from a multicultural background myself,” said Daja Fesili, founder of Mindfull Movement. “For me, it’s about meeting people where they’re at, using all the parts of who I am to share tools of wellness that bring communities together through creativity.

“Oceanside is home because of the people, and having the access and freedom to create, connect, and celebrate on our own terms is something I never take for granted.”

–City News Service