Our Story

The Suwanee Asian Festival began with a vision—and a question: why wasn’t there a festival celebrating Asian culture in Suwanee?

Suwanee Town Center Park is home to some of the city’s most beloved community events, but back in 2021, Michelle Kang noticed a glaring gap. Despite Suwanee’s growing diversity, there was no celebration specifically honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. That’s when she felt a strong calling to create something new.

In 2022, Michelle reached out to Suwanee’s City Event Manager, Amy Doherty, and was fortunate to secure the last available date for May 2023—just in time for AAPI Heritage Month. With no team and little external support, Michelle single-handedly planned, organized, and executed the first event. And still, the community showed up: over 1,000 attendees gathered to experience a vibrant blend of culture, cuisine, and community.

By 2024, a dedicated volunteer stepped in to help, and it became clear that the festival needed more structure to meet its growing potential. Now in its third year, the Suwanee Asian Festival has been rebranded and expanded. We’ve launched a full website, social media presence, and brought on a small paid team to manage administration, vendor and performer outreach, and marketing.

Formerly known as the AAPI Heritage Month Celebration, the newly rebranded Suwanee Asian Festival (SAF) reflects a broader mission—to foster cross-cultural understanding, build bridges between communities, and honor the diverse heritages and histories of Asia.

Each year, the festival brings together food and retail vendors, cultural performers, artists, and organizations from across the region. But SAF is more than a celebration. It’s a platform for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to engage with the community and share valuable resources. It’s a place where people of all generations and backgrounds can gather, learn, and connect.

What began as Michelle Kang’s solo effort has now grown into a regional tradition—powered by passion, rooted in community, and driven by the belief that culture has the power to unite us all.