Pandamonium heads to The City Beautiful as Pandafest, one of the country’s fastest-growing Asian food and culture festivals, kicks off the year with its Orlando debut next month.
Founded by Chinese-American entrepreneur BiuBiu Xu, the event began as a one-day pop-up in New York City in 2024 and has since taken the nation by storm, expanding into a multi-day event celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander culture in multiple cities.
Head to Festival Park in Orlando. Guests can spend the weekend there enjoying delicious food, live performances, and arts and crafts from local and national vendors. Panda-themed interactive experiences are also available for all ages.
Xu said in a news release that Pandafest’s Orlando debut will be its biggest year yet, after successful celebrations in cities such as Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston and Nashville.
“We’re excited to announce our first city of 2026 and our first-ever event in Orlando…an even more meaningful milestone for us,” she said. “We know Panda Fest fans are looking forward to our event in Orlando, and Orlando has a vibrant, diverse, and family-friendly community that is perfect for Panda Fest.”
The event, held at Festival Park (2911 E. Robinson St. in Orlando), will run throughout the weekend, including February 27th from 4pm to 10pm, February 28th from 10am to 10pm, and March 1st from 10am to 8pm.
More than 80 food vendors and trucks will be on site, showcasing more than 200 delicacies from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and more, as well as a curated marketplace with more than 20 vendors showcasing crafts, clothing, accessories and artifacts inspired by Asian traditions.
And what about performance? Many artists will appear, from K-POP to Lion Dancer.
Of course, the pandas include games, countless photo ops (15-foot inflatable panda, anyone?), panda bounce rings, themed treats and souvenirs, and much more.
Tickets will go on sale starting January 8th, with a limited number of early bird tickets ($10) available until January 10th. General admission ($14) includes admission to the festival and two free gifts: a custom Orlando pin and an inflatable panda headband. VIP tickets ($35) include upgrades such as shaded seating, VIP restrooms, special experiences, a private bar, and a Panda Fest tote bag.
Panda Fest is a rain or shine event.
For more information (tickets, vendor applications, etc.), visit pandafests.com. Follow Panda Fest on Instagram (@pandafestorlando) for festival updates, vendor spotlights, and sneak peeks.
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram @amydroo or the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, and for more foodie fun, join our Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
