9 Ways to Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Memphis
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month all of May with a series of events, food outings, and activities.
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month all of May with a series of events, food outings, and activities.
A nationwide celebration, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the rich history, contributions, and diverse experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843. It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 where the majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. You can learn more at asianpacificheritage.gov.
In 2023, author and professor SunAh M Laybourn, Ph.D., started the city's first AAPI Heritage Month Memphis. Now in its third year, the celebration keeps getting bigger and better—featuring a collective effort of island-inspired happy hours, a citywide Asian food tour, student art exhibits, cultural performances, and the high-energy Memphis Dragon Boat Festival.
It’s a month-long showcase of heritage, flavor, and community you won’t want to miss.
9 AAPI 2025 HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS TO HIT:
1. Kick off AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff with an Island Vibes Happy Hour
Wednesday, May 1 | 5:00pm - 7:30pm | Caption by Hyatt
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in Memphis with a vibrant Happy Hour featuring Pacific Island-inspired cuisine by Chef Pavy, tropical cocktails, and festive island vibes. Enjoy an evening of great company, bold flavors, and community spirit as we honor the rich traditions and contributions of AAPI communities. Tickets are $40.
2. Eat Your Way Through the Hungry Tiger Food Tour
All Month long | Times and locations vary
The Hungry Tiger Food Tour is a flavorful journey through Memphis’ Asian culinary communities. Highlights include group lunches and dinners trying dosas and biryani at Amrutha Vilas, Filipino lumpia at New Manila, sushi and hibachi at Takashi Bistro, Vietnamese bowls at Tuyen’s, and a lively Korean karaoke pop-up at Good Fortune Co—plus many more delicious stops, no registration required! Scroll down for the full lineup of restaurants!
3. Attend the AAPI Student Art Exhibition and Support Young Creators
Wednesday, May 7 | 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Cossitt Library
Celebrate the creativity of Memphis and Shelby County students at the AAPI Heritage Month Student Art Exhibition Opening Reception. This inspiring showcase features K–12 artwork honoring AAPI stories, traditions, and identity, with winning pieces on display before the exhibit moves to The Shops at Saddle Creek. Free and open to the public.
4. Watch a Screening of the Documentary Film “Bluff City Chinese” A Documentary Film.
Thursday, May 8 | 6:00pm - 8:15pm | National Civil Rights Museum
A special screening of Bluff City Chinese will be held at the National Civil Rights Museum, a powerful documentary exploring 150 years of Chinese immigrant history in Memphis. The evening includes a pre-reception, followed by a screening and Q&A with filmmaker Thandi Cai—free with RSVP.
5. Celebrate Global Stories of Strength at Suchitra Mattai’s "with abundance we meet"
Thursday, May 22 | Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
with abundance we meet is a sculptural installation by Suchitra Mattai featuring fruit-like forms crafted from braided vintage saris, suspended in the rotunda as symbols of fertility, migration, and feminine strength. Drawing from South Asian ancestry and global diasporas, the work honors women’s domestic labor and craft traditions, transforming everyday textiles into powerful monuments to shared histories and resilience.
6. Make Your Own Japanese Folding Fan at Super Saturday
Saturday, May 24 | 10:00am-12:00pm CST | Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Learn about the art of sensu or Japanese folding fans by making your own! Experience the joy of creativity and the beauty of cultural heritage as you engage with this interactive workshop. Free with registration.
7. Kick Off the AAPI Student Art Exhibit with Food, Music, and Community
Saturday, May 24 | 4:00pm-6:00pm CST | Shops at Saddle Creek
Celebrate the creativity of Memphis and Shelby County K-12 students at the AAPI Heritage Month Student Art Exhibition at Saddle Creek, showcasing artwork that reflects AAPI stories, traditions, and identity. Enjoy food from Feast & Graze, drinks by Mane Celebrations, and music by Michelle Shrader during the opening on May 17; the exhibit runs through June 15 and is free and open to the public.
8. Taste, See, and Celebrate at the City of Memphis AAPI Heritage Month Celebration
Saturday, May 24 | 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Bert Ferguson Community Center
Enjoy live performances, cultural activities, and food. This event highlights the diversity of Memphis with representation from Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Pakistani communities.
9. Race and Cheer at the Memphis Dragon Boat Festival
Saturday, May 31 | All Day | Hyde Lake, Shelby Farms
This annual fundraising event features boat racing, dance performances, live music, and lots of food–hosted by the Memphis Chinese Community Center. Spectate or participate in the boat race with a team! Free admission.
Eat up during AAPI Heritage Month
If you're looking to dive more into the great Asian American cuisine in the city–and there's a lot–this is a great opportunity! Edible Memphis is again teaming up with AAPI Heritage Month for a Hungry Tiger Food Tour. At each stop you can eat some great food and maybe broaden your horizons with a new experience or friends.
UPCOMING HUNGRY TIGER FOOD TOUR STOPS:
Tuesday, May 6 | 6:30 p.m. at Amrutha Vilas
9959 Winchester Rd, Collierville, TN 38017
Friday, May 9 | 12:00 p.m. at Takashi Bistro
1680 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Tuesday, May 13 | 6:00 p.m. at New Manila Restaurant
7849 Rockford Rd, Millington, TN 38053
Friday, May 16 | 12:00 p.m. at Tuyen’s Asian Bistro
288 N Cleveland St, Memphis, TN 38104
Tuesday, May 20 | 6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. Good Fortune x Gorae Soju: Karaoke Pop-Up
361 South Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Friday, May 23 | 12:00 p.m. at Nagoya House Hibachi & Ramen
2156 Young Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Tuesday, May 27 | 6:30 p.m. at Swagath Indian Cuisine & Bar
5030 Poplar Ave Ste 3 & 4, Memphis, TN 38117
Friday, May 30 | 12:00 p.m. at Kura House
1324 Peabody Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
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