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Tallahassee Celebrates Asia

Tom Flanigan

Downtown Tallahassee turned into a literal buffet of Asian cultures and especially Asian food on Saturday, Oct. 6.  The Fourteenth Annual Experience Asia Festival brought tens-of-thousands to the Bloxham and Lewis parks.

During the festival's formal kickoff, members of the Asia Coalition of Tallahassee gathered on stage to sing the praises of their new homeland that has welcomed them and their various heritages.

"Celebrate America, home sweet home," they sang.

That message of diversity and inclusion was re-inforced by Festival Chair Aurora Torres-Hansen.

"This is our community, this is our home," she said. "And we like to share everything; all our cultures and traditions and this is the best way to do it."

Saturday featured non-stop musical and cultural performances as well as 60 vendors. Many of those providing mouth-watering cuisines from places like India, China, Japan, and the Philippines. Experience Asia has grown dramatically over the years. Attendance now approaches the 20,000 mark.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

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