One of the largest Asian street food festivals in the country, Panda Fest, is heading to Atlanta for the first time from April 4 to 6. Tickets are already sold out with a 50,000-person waitlist, according to festival organizers. The mega gathering at Atlantic Station will include Asian food vendors, an outdoor market, K-Pop and Thai dance performances, and a 15-foot inflatable panda this weekend. The festival began in New York City and is now growing to multiple cities nationwide.
“I always knew that I wanted to expand to the South, and Atlanta is such a big southern food city that’s on the rise,” says Panda Fest founder Biu Biu. “Atlanta has a large Asian population and an interest in our cuisine with Buford Highway and other areas of Atlanta showcasing our culture and cuisine.”
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25877910/Soup_dumplings.jpg)
Biu Biu is no stranger to hosting big Asian festivals. Born and raised in China, she came to the U.S. in 2015 and started Panda Day in New York City in 2024, which quickly became an underground success. She has hosted more than 25 events in the city under the umbrella of Dragon Fest — with themes like soup dumpling day, panda-themed Chinese festivals, and outdoor markets with local artists. She also created the egg-themed pop-up called the Egg House in 2018, which expanded from New York City to Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Macau.
“I always knew that I wanted to expand and create more Asian cultural festivals nationwide, but I really knew after running events in New York City for more than two years that it was time to expand,” says Biu Biu.
Panda Fest in Atlanta will bring more than 300 vendors to Atlantic Station, including heavy-hitters like Filipino favorite on Buford Kamayan ATL, Midtown’s Korean fried chicken joint Mukja, and Food Terminal. Other local vendors include Kani House Japanese fare, Carbart’s K-Dogs, Bi Bop Tea Talk boba and coffee, and Sisters Kitchen Thai street food pop-up, among many others. Chefs from New York City, Orlando, Miami, and Nashville are also expected.
More festivals around Atlanta this season:
Atlanta Dogwood Festival, April 11 to 13
Atlanta’s biggest spring festival returns for the 89th time this year, and it’s free. The Dogwood Festival will be held at Piedmont Park all weekend long and will feature a local artist market, a mimosa 5K run, mainstage concerts.
Sip Brookhaven, April 12
Sip Brookhaven returns on Saturday, April 12 at the Quad at Oglethorpe University with food and drink pairing stations, highlighting the neighborhood’s culinary scene. Early bird tickets are $65 through February 28. Prices increase to $75 on March 1, and tickets will be $85 at the gate on the day of the event.
Past spring festivals to bookmark for next year:
Mother Shucker Oyster Festival at Arnette’s Chop Shop, March 23
The fifth annual Mother Shucker Oyster Festival will take place on Sunday, March 23, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the restaurant’s courtyard. Tickets are $85 a person and include raw, roasted, and stewed oysters, plus oyster sliders, gumbo, bloody Maria shooters with mezcal, unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails.
Holi at Chai Pani and NaanStop, March 14 and 15
Chai Pani is holding its annual Holi celebration in Decatur on March 14, 5 to 10 p.m. The free celebration will be filled with Bollywood jams, a photo-booth, pani puri, henna, Holi color throwing, and food and drink specials for purchase.
And the next day, on March 15, NaanStop’s Buckhead location at 3420 Piedmont Road, NE, will celebrate the festival of colors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The celebration is family-friednly and free with a Holi color toss, live DJ, kids’ crafts, and light Indian snacks. NaanStop’s full menu will also be available, featuring favorites like chicken tikka masala, fresh naan, and samosas.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25877902/unnamed__6_.jpg)
