Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May

This May, the City of Lake Oswego is proud to celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people. The AANHPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent including East, Southeast and South Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

Visit the Federal Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to learn more about the origins and events for this commemorative history month.

A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience

This year’s Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience”. The 2025 honors all the work of AANHPI leaders who have established a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity. For more information on this year’s theme please visit FAPAC - AAPI Resources

Celebrations and Activities

2025 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration
Sunday, May 18, 2024 from 12-3 p.m.
Join Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation as we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month. This cultural event will honor the rich cultures, traditions and contributions of AANHPI communities.

Join the Lake Oswego Public Library in the celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI/AANHPI) cultures and heritage. We encourage you to check out some of the amazing things going on throughout the month of May:

Early Childhood Music and Movement in Mandarin Chinese
Curated AAPI book/movie lists on our adult and youth Pinterest boards.
Inspiring book and media displays at the library

AANHPI Heritage Month at Lansu Chinese Garden
Sunday May 5, 2024 - Portland Japanese Garden
Join the Portland Japanese Garden in celebrating Kodomo no Hi, also called Children’s Day. Kodomo no Hi is commemorated each year in Japan in early May to celebrate children's growth and good fortune. The festival will feature a range of family-friendly activities. Listen to taiko performances, learn how to make origami koi or frogs, participate in a treasure hunt, and enjoy koinobori or cloth carp streamers displays

Oregon APPI Food & Wine Fest 2025
Saturday May 17 - Sunday May 18, 2025 - Stoller Family Estate Experience Center
The Oregon AAPI Food & Wine Fest celebrates the AAPI communities that make the state diverse and delicious. Join and celebrate with us during AAPI Heritage Month and Oregon Wine Month.

The Story Begins: Commemorating 50 Years of Vietnamese Culture

April-August, 2025 10am-3pm- Oswego Heritage House

The Vietnamese American community in Portland will be commemorating a profound milestone - 50 years since the beginning of a new chapter for many Vietnamese immigrants in America, April 30th, 2025. This moment symbolizes half a century of resilience, growth, and contributions to the city’s vibrant culture. To honor this legacy, we invite you to join us through a series of gatherings celebrating the Vietnamese impact on Portland and American culture.

PBS Documentaries

Every May PBS takes extra time to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by shining a light on AAPI experiences and filmmakers. Enjoy this selection of films, some premiering in May as well as some gems to revisit. These documentaries celebrate the light and love in our diverse AANHPI communities.

History

Throughout history, members of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities have contributed to Oregon’s economy and rich cultural history. To learn more about the contributions of Chinese, Japanese, Hmong, Indian and other Asian and Pacific Islander communities, visit Race, Ethnicity and Nationality page on The Oregon Encyclopedia and select “group”.