After stops across the country, Panda Fest is finally coming to Pittsburgh, bringing its traveling Asian food and cultural festival to Station Square from September 18th through 20th. A way to travel throughout Asia right by the Three Rivers, Panda Fest represents countries like China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam with over 80 Asian food vendors, 200 Asian street food vendors, and 30 cultural marketplace vendors.
What to Expect at Panda Fest’s Pittsburgh Debut
Panda Fest may be new to Pittsburgh but the festival already travels to 15 other cities including Orlando and Philadelphia. The center of the festival is the lines of food vendors that bring you everything from boba tea to noodle dishes, dumplings, bao, skewers, hot pot, egg waffles, grilled squid, katsu, curry bowls, sushi, and so much more. There are even vendors that lean more fusion-heavy, carrying menu items like sushi pizza and Korean corn dogs, so you don’t have to stray to far from what you already love to enjoy the cuisine. It’s a chance to try both traditional Asian cuisine and trending treats such as tanghulu and bungeoppang (fish shaped pastries).
One of the biggest draw of Panda Fest, besides the food, is in the name… pandas. A 15-foot inflatable panda is the landmark of the festival though there are plenty of other panda-themed photo opportunities, treats, panda bounce house, games, and products. A lot of the food and drink items even come with a little panda figure on top. Expect cuteness overload when you order up a latte that features a cloud of foam in the shape of a panda bear.
Outside of the Food, Explore Shopping and Live Performances
But, despite the panda mascot, culture is at the core of Panda Fest. Throughout the day you can walk through a marketplace featuring cultural vendors selling Asian specialty products. Look through handmade crafts, clothing, accessories, and specialty ingredients from around the world. Artisan teas, artwork, origami earrings, and crochet plushies are just a few of the things you’ll find.
After browsing the market, stop by the main stage for performances all day long whether it’s lion dances, K-pop artists, or Thai dancers. Even off stage there are demonstrations that you can watch like sugar painting, paper cutting, and calligraphy. So, your day is truly up to you, whether you’d rather indulge in the food, take home a trinket for your shelf, or bask in the traditions of Asia.
Ready to head to Panda Fest? Starting July 28 at 10 a.m., you can grab Early Bird tickets for just $10, but hurry, there are only 1,000 available. Otherwise, general admission tickets are $14 (through Saturday is $16) and include a free Pittsburgh panda pin and panda headband. Or, you can purchase VIP for $35 (or $37 for Saturday) to receive fast-pass entry, access to exclusive VIP areas and bathrooms, and an panda bag. Plus, for all families, children under six get in for free.
Is your mouth watering yet? While you wait, explore Pittsburgh’s best Asian restaurants.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photos Courtesy of Panda Fest
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
