Celebrate the Year of the Horse at the Oregon Asian Celebration – Saturday, July 18th
Alton Baker Park – Free Admission!
Bring your family and friends to the 41st annual Oregon Asian Celebration for a day filled with traditional and contemporary Asian dance and music, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, youth activities, and a karaoke contest, mini-sessions to learn taiko drumming, tai chi, and the Chinese lion dance.
Tempt your taste buds with a variety of Asian street foods from more than a dozen food vendors and food trucks, and explore a vibrant marketplace featuring more than 75 vendors offering handcrafted items, products, services, and community resources.
According to Eugenia Su, co-director of the Oregon Asian Celebration, the 2026 Year of the Horse is associated with the fire element, symbolizing strength, energy, innovation, and resilience. The Year of the Horse encourages people to embrace new opportunities, break free from old routines, and move forward with confidence and determination.
“Over the past 40 years, our festival has introduced generations of people to the rich diversity of Asian cultures represented in our community,” said Su. “One of the festival’s most important goals is to engage and inspire young people. As a young adult, I learned and performed the Chinese lion dance, and now, as a mother, I hope my child will grow up feeling proud of his heritage, connected to his culture, and inspired to share it with others. Creating those opportunities for the next generation is one of the lasting gifts this celebration provides to families and our community.”
Festival Highlights
Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibition
The Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibition is an off-site event to celebrate local artists whose work is inspired by the arts, cultures, and traditions of Asia. Presented in collaboration with the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience a diverse collection of paintings, sculpture, photography, textiles, and mixed-media works through July 12. For event details, visit Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.
Performances
Enjoy traditional and contemporary music, dance, and cultural performances representing the Philippines, Japan, India, Indonesia, China, Korea, and more. The popular Karaoke Contest returns to the Main Stage. Sign-ups begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Information booth for aspiring singers to perform and compete for prizes.
Martial Arts Stage
Beginning at 11:00 a.m., local martial arts schools will present demonstrations of taekwondo, aikido, tai chi, karate, and other disciplines. Attendees of all ages are welcome to learn basic techniques from experienced instructors from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Marketplace
Browse more than 75 vendor booths featuring arts, crafts, unique products, cultural merchandise, nonprofit organizations, and community resources.
Youth Activities
Children and families can enjoy hands-on crafts, origami, carnival games, and interactive activities. Kids can participate in the popular Year of the Horse Treasure Hunt program by collecting stamps from eight festival locations and redeeming completed passports for a prize. Additional activities celebrating the Year of the Horse are planned.
Asian Cuisine
Sample a wide variety of Asian foods and beverages, including dim sum, teriyaki chicken, yakisoba, sushi burritos, bubble tea, shaved ice, and specialties from India, the Philippines, and other Asian cultures.
Asian Table Games
Discover the fun and strategy of popular Asian games! Play, learn, or teach games such as Go, Mahjong, Chinese Checkers, and more. Game tables will be available throughout the day, with experienced players on hand to introduce newcomers to the games.
Bring your friends, bring a favorite game if you’d like, challenge someone to a match, or simply stop by to watch and learn. Whether you’re an experienced player or trying a game for the first time, everyone is welcome.
Interested in playing beyond the festival? Meet members of the Eugene Go Club and add your name to an interest list for a future local Mahjong group.
Haiku and Tanka Exhibit
View an exhibit of haiku and tanka poetry created by Lane County students and organized by Skipping Stones Magazine.
Heritage Exhibit
Explore a special exhibit celebrating more than 40 years of Oregon Asian Celebration history through festival posters, photographs, and memorabilia. Also, see Asian cultural artifacts from the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
What to Bring
To stay comfortable throughout the day, attendees are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle, lawn chair, blanket, or umbrella. Water refill stations and misting stations will be available on-site.
Event Sustainability
Transportation:
Attendees are encouraged to bike, walk, or ride LTD to the festival. Free bus rides will be available using the festival rider code on the UMO Mobility app. Cascadia Mobility will provide 98 bicycle parking spaces; cyclists should bring their own locks. Visit the festival website for transportation details and the LTD rider code.
Reduce Waste/Go Green:
Participating food vendors are partnering with the Asian Celebration to Go Green in collaboration with Lane County’s Waste Wise program by serving food on reusable/returnable plates, bowls, and cups, including utensils, to minimize or replace dishware made of paper or Styrofoam that ends up in the garbage. Festival attendees can return dishware to the Returnable Dishware bins or booth, located in the eating area.
The Asian American Council of Oregon produces the Oregon Asian Celebration with support from Peak Credit Union, Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, the City of Eugene, Lane County, KVAL-TV, and KLCC-FM.
For a complete schedule of performances and activities, visit AsianCelebration.org.
