Every May, we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islanders cultures or AAPI Heritage Month. There are so many great ways to experience the impact and histories of Asian Americans in our city throughout the year, but this month there are even more events and parties to attend. One of my favorites is Panda Fest, which started in New York City and is now one of the biggest festivals in the country.
Here are six events where all are welcome to participate, eat delicious foods and watch great performances for AAPI Heritage Month and beyond.
Want to learn more about Asian American culture in Indianapolis? Documenter Hala Hersi covered the Indiana Landmarks event “Mapping Asian and Pacific Islander American History in Indiana” on Feb. 4, 2026. 📝 Read the notes.
Asian American Alliance presents Asian Fest Light Show
🗓️ 10 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily through May
📍 Monument Circle, 1 Monument Circle
🎟️ Free
Ready to enjoy the warm weather? Drive to the AES building on Monument Circle and watch a 30-minute projection, highlighting the magic of AAPI communities. Drive by and roll the windows down or pack a picnic and enjoy!
Asian Fest
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday, May 9,
📍 Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St.
🎟️ Free
Enjoy live music, dance and martial arts demonstrations. While you watch the performances, enjoy dishes from around the world and browse interactive booths that include kid-friendly activities and free health resources.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage in Art
🗓️ 1 p.m. May 12 and May 19
📍 Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
🎟️ Free for members
Take a closer look at the influences of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture in art with a docent-led tour. Not a Newfields member? You can still enjoy the Asian art galleries, featuring Japanese and Korean paintings, ceramics, lacquerware and metalwork for the price of museum admission.
Panda Fest
🗓️ May 15-17
📍 Military Park, 601 W. New York St.
🎟️ $14, children under 6 are free
Panda Fest is one of the biggest outdoor Asian food festivals in the country — this year it comes to Indianapolis for the first time. Enjoy activities, market fairs and tastings of cultural foods — you can expect over 200 types of Asian street food, more than 90 types of food vendors and even a Panda bounce house for the kiddos.
Beyond May…
Indianapolis Social and Language Exchange
🗓️ 5:30 p.m. Fridays
📍 Bakersfield, 334 Massachusetts Ave.
🎟️ Free
This group meets on Fridays to share culture and create friendships. This is a great way to continue being involved with the AAPI community. Anyone who is open to learning new languages and cultures is welcome to come.
Hoosier Voices from Vietnam
🗓️ Sept. 27, 2026-Jan. 23, 2027
📍 Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St.
🎟️ Adults $15; seniors (60+) $14; youth (5-17) $5. Active military, veterans and IHS members receive free admission.
Enjoy a break from the day-to-day hustle and take a step into the past. This is a special opportunity to listen to newly recorded and archival interviews while viewing artifacts and other materials from Vietnam during the war.
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Avery Deedrick is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach her at adeedrick@butler.edu.
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