Email: PIO@ocfl.net
Orange County Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May Calendar of Community Events Now Available
Orange County, FL – On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Mayor Jerry L. Demings will recognize the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in Orange County.
AAPI Heritage Month recognizes the historic and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent, including East, Southeast and South Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
In collaboration with the Orange County Asian Committee, a calendar of events celebrating the rich culture of the AAPI community has been created for residents who wish to attend events across Orange County. The calendar of events is listed below.
Calendar of Events
| Event | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Career Pathways in the Law Hosted by the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association, Asian American Pacific Islanders Coming Together and Asian American Chamber of Commerce to give students the opportunity to tour the Orange County Courthouse and to hear from judges, courthouse staff, and legal practitioners from the Ninth Circuit regarding their pathways in the law and how students can shape their career paths. This event is free to attend and is open to middle school, high school, college, and law school students. Lunch will be provided. Registration Link. |
Friday, May 2, 8 am to 1pm | Orange County Courthouse 425 N. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 |
| Orange County ‘s 13th Annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration Details and RSVP at https://OCACFL2025.eventbrite.com |
Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 – 9am | Orange County Admin Center 201 S Rosalind Ave Orlando, FL 32802 |
| Indian American Chamber of Commerce Small Business EXPO Visit https://iaccorlando.com for more details. |
Thursday, May 8, 2025, 2pm – 8pm | Doubletree by Hilton at SeaWorld 10100 International Dr. Orlando, 32821 |
| Asian American Chamber of Commerce – AAPI Heritage Month Celebration Food tasting, Entertainment and more. Members: Free and Non-Members: $20Visit https://asianamericanchambercfl.org for more details. |
Wednesday, May 14, 5pm to 8pm | City Hall, City of Orlando 400 South Orange Ave. Orlando, FL 32801 |
| Asian American Heritage Council – Asian Cultural Festival
All proceeds will go to the Asian American Student Achiever Award Scholarship. |
Saturday, May 17, 11am – 4pm | Ocoee Lakeshore Center Bill Breeze Park |
| Asian American Pacific Islander Icons in Central Florida
Join award-winning journalist Valerie Boey Ramsey as she takes us on a journey through the rich and often overlooked history of Orlando’s AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. From the pioneers who helped shape Florida’s early landscape to the modern-day advocates who are driving change in our city, this lecture explores trailblazers who have made lasting impacts. Hear firsthand accounts from these influential figures and gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of Orlando’s AAPI community. https://www.thehistorycenter.org/event/asian-american-pacific-islander-icons/ |
Sunday, May 18, 2 – 3 p.m. | Orange County Regional History Center 65 E. Central Blvd., Orlando |
| Orange County Asian-Inspired Art Contest Award Ceremony
Contact Shally Wong at shally.wong@ocfl.net or https://www.facebook.com/ocacfl |
Monday, May 19, 5:30 – 6:30pm | Orange County Admin Center 201 S Rosalind Ave Orlando, FL 32802 |
Visit https://asiatrend.org/event/ for more celebrations in Florida.
From Orange County Library System
In May, Orange County Library System celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by highlighting history, culture and inspiring stories. Immerse yourself in vibrant history with a Polynesian Dance Performance at Chickasaw Branch on Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. Enjoy a lion dance and kung fu and tai chi demonstration at the Kung Fu Show- Presented by Wah Lum Kung Fu at Orlando Public Library on Saturday, May 31, at 1 p.m. Learn Chinese Painting Basics during a virtual class on Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.
Visit ocls.info/aanhpi for a full catalog of events.
| Event | Time | Branch |
|---|---|---|
| OCLS Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month https://ocls.org/aanhpi |
May 1-31 | All Branches |
| Hiawassee Art Club: Shadow Puppets
Discover the history of Balinese shadow puppets and then create your own. Registration required. Ages 6–12. |
Fri., May 9 • 4:30 p.m. | Hiawassee |
| Chinese Painting Basics
Join artist Jojo Liu as she teaches the basics of Chinese painting, including how to use the brush and ink, the technique of bamboo stalks, leaves, branches and the composition of the painting. Registration required. |
Mon., May 12 • 6:30 p.m. | Virtual |
| DIY Miniature Zen Gardens
Construct a zen garden while exploring the art of abstraction. Registration required. Ages 9–12. |
Thu., May 15 • 3:30 p.m. | Eatonville |
| Teen Cuisine: Musubi
Learn how to make musubi, a snack that originated from Hawaii. Registration required. Ages 13–18. |
Sat., May 17 • 4:30 p.m. | Hiawassee |
| Cuisine Corner: Baingan Chokha
Join Dianne Morin to make a classic East Indian roasted mashed eggplant dish with roti. Registration required. |
Mon., May 19 • 6:30 p.m. | Virtual |
| Ancient History: China
Travel with us to discover the ancient world of the Ming Dynasty. Through crafts and games, you will learn more about the fascinating history and culture of Ancient China. Registration required. Ages 6–12. |
Wed., May 21 • 4 p.m. | West Oaks |
| A Trip to Japan
Konnichiwa! Explore the land of the rising sun with stories, games and crafts inspired by Japan. Registration required. Ages 6–12. |
Wed., May 28 • 4 p.m. | Washington Park |
| Polynesian Dance Performance
Immerse yourself in the vibrant history of Polynesia through elaborate dances presented by Lanakila’s Polynesian Dance Team. |
Sat., May 31 • 11 a.m. | Chickasaw |
| Dragon and Lion Dancing with Puppets
Learn about the lion dance and the dragon dance through puppetry! Registration required. Recommended for families. |
Sat., May 31 • 11 a.m. | Windermere |
| Kung Fu Show Presented by Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple
A diverse team of professional performers from the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple will present a lion dance, kung fu and tai chi performance demonstration. Explore Chinese culture through this demonstration.
|
Sat., May 31 • 1 p.m. | Orlando Public Library |
About Orange County Government: Orange County Government strives to serve its residents and guests with integrity, honesty, fairness and professionalism. Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide. For more information, please visit www.OCFL.net or go to Orange County Government’s social media channels.