Last year, when we celebrated Asian Heritage Month, we noted that adjustments were made to regularly scheduled programming due to the onset of a pandemic. Needless to say, we and the rest of the Asian community have been disrupted and unsettled far more than any of us could’ve expected.
As we head into Asian Heritage Month 2021 and beyond, it is more important than ever for us all to continue to celebrate and become emboldened by the stories and shared history of our community.
Here are some great events to celebrate Asian Heritage Month:
Stand Together: The Asian North American Experience
May 6, 2021
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Register here
What does it actually mean to identify as Asian American or Asian Canadian in 2021?
Cold Tea Collective is partnering with the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) to present Stand Together, a free online Asian Heritage Month event featuring the Honourable Vivienne Poy, PhD, an author, historian, fashion designer, entrepreneur & community volunteer, and Lily Zheng, a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant and Executive Coach.
Join the event for a meaningful conversation with an accomplished community panel working to build awareness, understanding, and set the tone for the future.
explorASIAN Festival
Starts May 1, 2021
Check out the explorASIAN Festival guide here
Register for the Virtual Open Ceremony on May 1 here
explorASIAN is back for its 25th Anniversary Festival this May, with over 50 Asian Heritage Month virtual events and exhibitions presented by various community partners around Vancouver, BC.
To signal the opening of Asian Heritage Month across all of Canada, Vancouver City Hall will be illuminating in red. The ceremony will also celebrate the occasion with performances from local Asian Canadian artists Vince Mai and Sujit Vaidya. Register for the Virtual Open Ceremony on May 1 here.
IDENTITY 2021: #OURIDENTITY
May 15, 2021
5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EST on the Amazon Music Twitch Channel
More information to be announced here
IDENTITY 2021: #OURIDENTITY is a virtual celebration & fundraiser event for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Streaming live on May 15, 2021 on the Amazon Music Twitch Channel, join for live performances, special guests, inspirational messages, and more in the spirit of community. Funds raised will benefit the AAPI Community Fund, Gold House’s GoFundMe collaboration empowering local grassroots organizations devoted to restorative justice and Pacific Bride Arts musical scholarships.
Talent line-up, special guests, and more to be announced the first week of May. For more information, please see here.
Asia Society’s Heritage Month Celebration
Starts May 1, 2021
Register and check out the full event list here
This entire month, join Asia Society to celebrate the vibrant, diverse traditions and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans. Offering a multitude of live programs — virtual and in-person alike — check out their curated selection of on-demand family activities, art breaks, staff recommendations, and more.
Some virtual highlights include a performance from deadpan humourist Sheng Wang, a live webcast on standing against anti-Asian hate, and even a virtual book club hosted by Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown.
Check out all of Asia Society’s upcoming programs, interviews, and content here.
Vong Show’s Fresh Rice: New Asian Comedians Web Series
Starts May 4
5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM ET on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Watch on Vong Show’s YouTube channel here
Vong Show is proud to present Fresh Rice, a stand up comedy web series featuring emerging Asian comedians. The Fresh Rice web series will feature two Asian stand up comedians each week during the month of May, celebrating Asian Heritage Month.
Directed by Vong Show, the Fresh Rice showcases were filmed in Toronto at Glenn Gould Studio in January 2020. Fresh Rice web series will feature Anna Luo, Anto Chan, Josh Yang, Marie Sotto, Veronica Antipolo, Tim Wong, Nicholas Fernandes, and Gina Siva.
Watch each hilarious episode as they premiere every Tuesday and Thursday of May on Vong Show’s YouTube channel here.
More tea
Show us your pride all year-round by following Cold Tea Collective on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin, listen to our Pearls of Wisdom podcast, or subscribe to our newsletter, The Tea, for more stories for, by, and about Asian millennials.
From all of us at Cold Tea Collective, Happy Asian Heritage Month!
