Bay FC is proud to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and honor the communities whose cultures, contributions, and stories have helped shape both the Bay Area and this club. Observed each May, AANHPI Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the rich diversity and lasting impact of AANHPI communities across the United States.
In the Bay Area, there are dozens of ways to connect with local AANHPI heritage celebrations and AANHPI community events. Here is Bay FC’s guide to the best AANHPI gatherings across the region this May.
Bay Area AANHPI Heritage Month Events 2026
Family & Storytelling
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration at Children’s Fairyland
May 16–17 & 23–25 | Oakland
Two full weekends of AANHPI traditions — folklore, dance, contemporary storytelling, games, and crafts. Great for families with young children to explore. Details
Family Fun Saturday — Asian American and Pacific Islander Storytime
Saturday, May 16, 11 am–3 p.m. | Hayward Area Historical Society, Hayward
The Hayward Area Historical Society is opening its museum doors for family storytime that focuses on AANHPI stories. The 11 a.m. session is a dedicated sit-down program, but there’s plenty to see at the museum itself. Details
Asian American Heritage Month Storytime
Thursday, May 21, 4:00–4:45 p.m. | Centerville Library, Fremont
A short, well-put-together storytime with music and a take-home craft. The event runs in both English and Mandarin. Details
Stories That Dance
Saturday, May 30, 3:00–4:00 p.m. | West End Branch, Alameda Free Library
Laya Arts Collective brings Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance — two classical Indian forms — and weaves them through storytelling and movement activities. Details
Arts, Performance & Culture
South Bay AANHPI Festival
Saturday, May 16 San Jose
South Bay AANHPI Festival is San Jose’s community-wide celebration of AANHPI culture featuring games, crafts, community booths, vendors, food trucks, and performances. Details
Áo Dài Festival (ADF) 2026
Sunday, May 24 Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose
Now in its 8th year, this event is built around the áo dài — Vietnam’s national dress — but the day stretches well beyond fashion. Doors open at 2 p.m., with a multicultural parade at 3 p.m., designer runway shows at 4 p.m., and ADF by Night closing out the evening. Tickets
Japanese Taiko Drumming
Saturday, May 30, 11:00–11:45 a.m. Hayward Public Library
Experience the resonance of Taiko, a performance felt as much as it is heard. This 45-minute showcase offers a rich cultural tapestry, pairing the thunderous energy of Japanese drumming with traditional storytelling and bamboo flute music. Details
Korean Cooking Demonstration
Saturday, May 16, 2:30–4:30 p.m. Asian Branch, Oakland Public Library
This two-hour live demonstration explores the artistry behind traditional Korean cuisine. Participants will learn to prepare japchae (savory glass noodles) and zucchini jeon (crispy zucchini pancakes) while discovering the cultural significance of these staple dishes. Details
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Festival
Saturday, May 16, 1:00–4:00 p.m. Zelinsky Park, Tiburon
The Asian-Pacific American Heritage Festival brings food, traditional performances, art, and dance to the Tiburon waterfront. Details
San Francisco Giants AANHPI Heritage Nights — Bay Area Baseball in May
The SF Giants are celebrating AANHPI at Oracle Park with dedicated heritage nights:
- Japanese Heritage Night — May 22
- Chinese Heritage Night — May 26
Bay Area AANHPI Arts Organizations to Know
Academy of Hawaiian Arts Bay Area
A Bay Area nonprofit offering hula classes, Hawaiian music instruction, and crafts workshops. Founded by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu — the same artist behind the chants in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. Details
SF Bay Area Aloha Festival
August 8–9 San Mateo County Event Center
This year’s festival features live hula, contemporary and traditional Hawaiian and Tahitian music, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander food, artisan vendors, arts and crafts, community booths, educational workshops, a raffle, and an Ohana Keiki (children’s) Korner. Details
A Full Day Out on May 24 — Food, Soccer, and Festival
Morning — Explore AANHPI Flavors
Coming from San Francisco: Stop at Diamond Head General Store (260 El Camino Real, San Bruno) on the way down. It’s a neighborhood store and restaurant styled after the Hawaiian crack seed shops. Last year, Bay FC defender Caprice Dydasco, who grew up in Honolulu, brought her teammates to the store to try Hawaiian-style dishes. Open from 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Get directions
Already in San Jose: Swing by Mitsuwa Marketplace (675 Saratoga Ave) in San Jose. Enjoy a full Japanese market with grocery aisles, a food court with ramen and takoyaki, a bakery, and a bookstore stocked with anime goods imported directly from Japan. Open from 9 a.m. on Sundays. Get directions
2 p.m. — Bay FC vs. Chicago Stars FC, PayPal Park
Bay FC takes on Chicago Stars FC at PayPal Park, for their annual Pride match. Come out, celebrate Pride, and use the rest of the day to keep the AANHPI Heritage Month celebration going. For those who are both LGBTQ+ and AANHPI, this is a day that sees and celebrates all of who they are. Single-match tickets start at $18. Tickets
Evening — Áo Dài Festival, Mexican Heritage Plaza
The Áo Dài Festival runs all day and stays open until 10 p.m. — plenty of time to head over after the Bay FC match. The evening program, ADF by Night, features live music, a night market, and outdoor performances, with Vietnamese music icon Don Hồ headlining. Tickets
AANHPI Fast Facts
AANHPI Heritage Month is observed every May in the United States.
AAPI stands for Asian American and Pacific Islander. AANHPI is the expanded version that explicitly names Native Hawaiians — acknowledging that Native Hawaiians are the indigenous people of Hawai’i and deserve specific recognition within the broader designation.
Hula is the traditional dance of Hawai’i, rooted in oral storytelling. Before written language, hula was how knowledge, genealogy, and cultural memory were passed down through generations. The Academy of Hawaiian Arts is an organization that teaches this tradition in the Bay Area.
Crack seed shops are a Hawaiian tradition rooted in Chinese immigrant culture — selling dried, preserved fruits seasoned with salt, sugar, and sometimes licorice. Communities gathered in these shops and they became true hubs of Hawaiian life. Diamond Head General Store carries that same spirit to the Bay Area — and it’s one of the stops on Bay FC’s May 24 itinerary.
AANHPI stands for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander.
The áo dài is the traditional Vietnamese garment — a long tunic worn over wide-leg trousers — tied to identity and national pride. Contemporary designers have been reimagining it for modern wear while keeping its significance intact. Check them out at the Bay Area Áo Dài Festival May 24.
Taiko is Japanese drumming and one of the most physically demanding traditional art forms, with drums ranging from snare-sized to larger than a person. Experience it in the Bay Area at the Hayward Public Library on May 30.
