From Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, the Greater Philadelphia Fairgrounds in Oaks were buzzing with activity. The Dream Asia Festival, a nationwide street food festival centered on pan-Asian eats, set up shop at the fairgrounds for the weekend. The festival featured live music and dance performances, games and over 80 food vendors.

Visitors could find dishes from countries all across Asia, from Laotian pork skewers to Middle Eastern shawarmas. For savory eats, customers could stop by vendors like A Taste of Manila for lumpia and barbecue, Yi Fan Noodles for Chinese noodles and dumplings, or K-Crunch Dog for Korean-style corn dogs.

There were also many treat options to satisfy a sweet tooth. One of the vendors, Inari Sushi, offered a dango mochi dish: sweet rice balls covered in cream and finished with toppings of cookies, ube or fruit. Japanese sweet shop, Golden Taiyaki, sold taiyaki cakes, which are waffle pastries stuffed with sweet fillings like red bean paste, sesame, and cream. And of course, there were near endless selections of bubble tea.

Along with the variety of foods, the Dream Asia Festival offered music and cultural dance performances, clothing and toy vendors and a children’s petting zoo. Some of the featured musicians included K-Pop singer Gun Boi Kaz and DJ and producer, Seduza. The event also held cosplay and karaoke contests for visitors to participate in.

Though the Dream Asia Festival has finished its rounds in Pennsylvania, the fair will last until December 6 with its last stop at West Palm Beach in Florida. Those looking to experience the Dream Asia Festival can visit Baltimore, Maryland on September 25 for a special Mooncake Fest. To learn more, visit this link: Dream Asia Festival.

Photo – Suzanne McNaughton