Attend Panda Fest at Smale Park from October 16 through 18
Panda Fest, one of the largest outdoor Asian food and culture festivals in the United States, will make its Cincinnati debut October 16–18, 2026, at Smale Riverfront Park. The inaugural Cincinnati festival is expected to feature more than 90 food vendors serving 200+ Asian street food offerings, 30+ merchandise vendors, traditional and contemporary cultural performances, interactive activities and Panda Fest’s signature panda-themed experiences.
Past and returning Panda Fest vendors have served favorites including candied hawthorn tanghulu, secret-recipe king squid, mochi donuts, soufflé pancakes, dumplings, grilled eel, shrimp tempura, and shaobing filled with chicken, lamb, beef, or pork. Food items generally range from $7 to $25, and each participating vendor must offer at least one item priced under $10.
Admission to Panda Fest
General admission tickets are $14, VIP tickets are $35, and Saturday admission is an additional $2. Gate admission will be available for $20, subject to venue capacity, with advance ticket holders receiving priority entry.
VIP admission includes general admission benefits, expedited entrance, a Panda Fest bag, and access to exclusive VIP areas and restrooms.
Every ticket also comes with two free gifts: a special Panda pin featuring a Cincinnati-exclusive design and a Cincinnati-themed Panda headband.
Tickets are for 3 hour timeslots. Panda Fest is family-friendly and pet-friendly. Children under age six do not require a ticket. The festival will take place rain or shine unless severe weather requires a delay, postponement, or cancellation.
Panda Fest Entertainment Schedule
Friday, October 16
- Lion Dance, Kungfu, Dragon Dance with Sen Gao Martial Arts Academy (SGMAA)
5 p.m. - Traditional Japanese Shakuhachi Flute with Kyoufuzen Meditations
5:40 p.m. - Audience K-Pop Dance Battle
6:20 p.m. - Welcome & Festival Announcements
7 p.m. - Violin Solo with Yuanchun Wu
7:10 p.m. - DJ Set with DJ C.DOT
8 p.m.
Saturday, October 17
- Traditional Japanese Shakuhachi Flute with Kyoufuzen Meditations
11 a.m. - Choral Singing with Sound of Joy Choir
11:40 p.m. - K-Pop Random Dance with Kallisto KPD
12:20 p.m. - Welcome and Festival Announcements
1 p.m. - K-Pop Random Dance with Neocitipop
1:10 p.m. - K-Pop Dance with LUXXE
2:20 p.m. - Bollywood Beat Interactive Dance Show with Cultural Centre of India
3 p.m. - Welcome and Festival Announcements
4 p.m. - Lion Dance, Kungfu, Dragon Dance with Sen Gao Martial Arts Academy (SGMAA)
4:10 p.m. - Asian Pop with NIF-D
5 p.m. - Chinese Dance Fusion with Freya Dance Studio
5:15 p.m. - Solo Flute Performance with Ya Zhuo
6 p.m. - Welcome and Festival Announcements
7 p.m. - Violin Solo with Yuanchun Wu
7:10 p.m. - Rap Performance with None Like Joshua
7:40 p.m. - DJ Set with DJ Neo Atlanta
8 p.m.
Sunday, October 18
- Solo Flute Performance with Ya Zhuo
11 a.m. - K-Pop Cover Dance with Kallisto KPD
11:40 p.m. - Violin Solo with Yuanchun Wu
Noon - Solo Flute Performance with Ya Zhuo
12:40 a.m. - Welcome and Festival Announcements
1 p.m. - Lion Dance, Kungfu, Dragon Dance with Sen Gao Martial Arts Academy (SGMAA)
1:10 p.m. - K-Pop Random Dance with Neocitipop
2 p.m. - Traditional Chinese Instruments with Ming Ke Pipa World
3:15 p.m. - Welcome and Festival Announcements
4 p.m. - Asian Pop with NIF-D
4:10 p.m. - Traditional Japanese Shakuhachi Flute with Kyoufuzen Meditations
4:25 p.m. - Hip-Pop, R&B with Jay
5:10 p.m. - DJ Set with DJ C.DOT
6:10 p.m.
Panda Fest Vendors
Festivalgoers can explore an incredible variety of Asian-inspired street food, from bao buns, soup dumplings, noodles, sushi donuts, poke bowls, Korean barbecue, takoyaki, and wagyu specialties to grilled skewers, seafood, fried rice, and regional favorites from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Filipino, and Cambodian cuisines. Sweet treats are just as abundant, featuring mochi donuts, soufflé pancakes, rolled ice cream, crepes, tanghulu, mango sticky rice, taiyaki, lava custard cakes, ube soft serve, and Dubai chocolate creations. A wide selection of bubble teas, fruit drinks, Thai teas, slushies, coffees, and specialty beverages rounds out the festival experience, offering something for every taste.
- Mumu sweet
- At Boba
- Baozang
- Softbite
- King Squid
- Le poke
- Heaven Noodles/Saucy Bao
- 九头鸟
- Chan Bai Mei
- Cozy Tea Loft
- BBQ Master/K Food Master
- T J Big Pan
- Dumpling King
- Kream Seoul Crepe
- Hoshino
- Baobutong
- Rolled Ice Cream
- For U
- Spring Tea/ Mango Sago Pudding
- Crispy Cloud/Taste of Korea
- Rich Tea
- Sushi Donut
- Yu Kun
- Fizzy Fizzy
- Second
- Hawaiian Honey Cones
- Goku 2 Kitchen/Goku Kitchen
- Viral Dubai Chocolate
- Capyboba
- Crisp and Cool
- Cozy Tea Loft
- Xiao Hou Zi
- Pop Asian Street Food
- Mr.Takoyaki
- MEGA BKK Tea
- Lamoon Thai Tea
- Manila Grill Asian Fusion
- Teera Thai
- VK delicious khmer
- Tala’s delightful bites
- Chicken & Korean Hot Dog / Taste of Korea
- Tri Asian Bao Bun
- Inari Zushi
- Maya’s Merienda and Asian Street Foods
- Musubin/Wagyu Burger
- Milk Jar Cafe
About Panda Fest
Launched in 2024, Panda Fest is one of the largest outdoor Asian food and culture festivals in the United States. Featuring experiential activities, tastings, market fairs, and live performances, Panda Fest brings communities together to celebrate the richness of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures. Created as a one-day event called Panda Day by founder Xuan “BiuBiu” Xu, Panda Fest has grown into a multi-day, multi-city experience featuring food, arts, entertainment, and interactive programming.
Smale Riverfront Park Venue details
Parking
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