About this Event
Gateway to Asia — Asian Culture Festival featuring AAPI Celebration
Join us for a free, family-friendly celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Bayshore Shopping Center in Glendale, WI! Gateway to Asia is a vibrant full-day festival presented by the Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce (WCCC), co-hosted with the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC), Milwaukee Chinese Community Center (MCCC), and AREAA Greater Milwaukee.
Discover the beauty, diversity, and joy of Asian heritage through live performances, authentic food, hands-on workshops, and cultural storytelling — all in one place, all in one day. Register for your free ticket to be entered into our raffle!
🎭 LIVE PERFORMANCES Watch 8+ Asian cultures come alive on the main stage! The day kicks off with a spectacular Lion Dance and ends with a Dragon Dance grand finale. In between, enjoy Japanese Taiko drumming, Bollywood dance, Hmong traditional dance with the Qeej instrument, Southeast Asian folk dance from Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines, classical Indian dance, martial arts showcase, family yoga, and youth fusion performances.
🍜 TASTE ZONE Savor authentic Asian flavors from 20+ food vendors and booths. Enjoy bubble tea tastings, live dumpling and Zong Zi folding demos, sushi handrolls, chai tastings, and so much more. Come hungry!
🎨 WORKSHOP ALLEY Get hands-on with Asian culture! Try Chinese calligraphy, origami, lantern making, henna art, tea ceremony, a Bollywood mini dance class, and traditional instrument try-outs. Something for every age and interest.
👧 KIDS CORNER & ASIA DISCOVERY PASSPORT Keep the little ones engaged all day with crafts, folktales, and percussion play. Pick up a free Asia Discovery Passport at the Information Booth, collect stamps at cultural stations around the festival, and return your completed passport for a prize! Prizes include festival sticker sets, mini lanterns, cultural bookmarks, Asian snack treats, and festival wristbands.
📸 PHOTO & COSTUME STATION Dress up in traditional Asian attire — kimono, sari, Hmong dress, Baro't Saya — and take home a beautiful memory with a group photo opportunity.
🤝 COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE Browse handcrafted goods, cultural art, and products from local Asian-owned businesses, artisans, schools, and community organizations. A great opportunity to discover and support your local Asian community.
STAGE SCHEDULE
11:00 – 11:30 AM | Grand Opening
- Lion Dance (Grand Opening Performance)
- Thailand Flower Dance
- Opening speech
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | China — Traditional & Festival Arts
- Traditional Fan Dance (classical/folk)
- Plaza Dance Performance
- Youth Dance Performance
12:30 – 1:00 PM | Japan — Rhythm & Discipline
- Karate Demonstration (traditional kata + youth showcase)
- Interactive Taiko Call-and-Response (family-friendly audience participation)
1:00 – 2:00 PM | Southeast Asia Showcase — Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines
- Indonesia: Traditional Dance (Balinese/Javanese)
- Philippines: Folk Dance & Rondalla Music
- Interactive Cultural Dance with Kids (Indonesia, Lao, Philippines)
- Thailand: Cultural Dance Performance
2:00 – 2:30 PM | Martial Arts & Movement
- Karate Showcase & Youth Belt Demonstration
- Interactive Kids Introduction (on-stage participation)
- Plaza Dance Performance
2:30 – 3:00 PM | Cultural Fusion & Sponsor Segment
- Cultural Fusion Performances
- Sponsor Remarks
- Dragon Dance
3:00 – 3:30 PM | Hmong Cultural Showcase
- Youth Hmong Dance Performance
- Teen Hmong Dance Performance
(Featuring Hmong Community Booth)
3:30 – 4:00 PM | India — Movement & Color
Theme: Rhythm, Dance, and Ritual
- Family Yoga Session (guided poses & breathwork)
- Bollywood Dance Showcase
- Classical Dance (Bharatanatyam or Kathak)
- Family Bollywood Mini-Class (interactive)
4:00 – 5:00 PM | Contemporary & Fusion Showcase
Theme: Young Voices of Asia
- Live Band Performance
- Thailand Youth Dance
- Traditional Instrument Set (Erhu, Guzheng, Bamboo Flute)
- Vocal Performance
- Guzheng Solo
- Chinese Youth Dance
- K-Pop Dance
5:00 – 5:30 PM | Closing & Celebration
- Finale Fusion Performance (Bollywood, K-Pop, Indonesian Dance)
- Group Photo with Performers, Sponsors & Community Leaders
- Closing Remarks & Acknowledgements
PRESENTED BY Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) · Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) · Milwaukee Chinese Community Center (MCCC) · AREAA Greater Milwaukee
📅 Saturday, May 16, 2026 🕙 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM 📍 Bayshore Shopping Center, Glendale, WI 🎟️ Free Admission — Register now to enter the raffle!
Celebrating Culture, Community, and Business
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Bayshore, 5800 North Bayshore Drive, Glendale, United States
USD 0.00
