The first Pan Asian Festival took place in the parking lot of Western Bank on St. Paul’s University Avenue in 1996. Its humble beginnings belied its significance to the Asian Pacific Islanders’ (API) communities in the Twin Cities.

Sponsored by the State Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotan and run by the nonprofit organization Asian American Renaissance, the Festival grew steadily over the next six years to include cultural performances, martial arts exhibitions, children activities as well as health and wellness information. In 2003 the Festival’s name was changed to Dragon Festival to reflect the addition of dragon boat racing. The Festival also became a two-day event and was relocated to Phalen Lake in St. Paul.

With the strong and continued support from the City of St. Paul, the Festival formed its own Board of Directors, became entirely volunteer-run, engaged a fiscal agent to oversee its financial operations and has been growing steadily. the annual two-day, free-admission event now draws close to 10,000 attendees.

The Festival has become the central venue for API performing artists and artistic organizations to showcase both their emerging talent and established achievements. In 2006, DF added a visual arts exhibit featuring both emerging and established local artists. Understanding the vendor fee set in 2004 will be too much of a burden for these artist, the Dragon Festival took a crucial step that enable them to participate at the Dragon Festival. The Executive Committee decided to lower the vendor fee drastically to underline the Festival’s commitment to become the proponent of, and vehicle for exhibiting, all art forms among the API communities. The Executive Board actively look for and develop new components each year to keep the Festival "fresh."

A survey conducted by the University of Minnesota Tourism Center in 2006 showed that visitors come from as far as 100 plus miles away. It also showed that the visitors are multiethnic: 60% white, 30% Asian, 3.5% African American, 3.2% American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.6% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Clearly, the Festival has become a place for East to meet West. Through the Festival’s activities, peoples of all ethnicities can learn and accept each other: Unity within Diversity.

 

Mission
To bring together the Greater Twin Cities community in celebration of the diverse Asian-Pacific cultures through an annual dragon festival.

Vision
To foster trust and a sense of community among Asian-Pacific ethnic communities.
To enhance a sense of pride in Asian-Pacific Americans, by respecting and honoring the dignity and value of Asian-Pacific histories, cultures, and traditions.
To affirm Asian-Pacific people's place within and contributions to the State of Minnesota.

Goals
Build bridges between the various Asian-Pacific communities, as well as among them and the wider social fabric of Minnesota by providing friendly competition through a dragon boat race.
Promote understanding of various forms of Asian-Pacific artistic, educational, and athletic activities through cultural performances, martial arts, the healing arts, and outdoor/indoor Asian games.
Build community and establish collaborations with similar organizations in order to provide an incentive for Asian-Pacific Americans to participate in outreach programs of various community organizations.