Panda Fest: Atlanta's Newest Cultural Event Makes Its Debut This Weekend, April 4-6, 2025!

WHAT: Panda Fest

WHEN: Friday, April 4: 4:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 5: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 6: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Atlantic Station | Pinnacle Lot | 221 20th St., Atlanta, GA 30363

ATLANTA: The first-ever Panda Fest is set to debut in Atlanta this weekend, April 4-6! The interactive panda-themed festival will highlight the art, music, dance, and food of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultures. There is plenty to experience and look forward to at the inaugural Panda Fest, so take a look at the guide below for all the things you should know before you go.

THE EXPERIENCE:

Admission to Panda Fest will give attendees access to a number of foods, sights, and activities, including:

• Nearly 100 food stalls serving 300+ types of delicious cuisine from panda-shaped treats to popular street foods and

traditional dishes. Options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with dietary restrictions will be available.

• Panda Fest’s food vendors include eateries specializing in Vietnamese noodles and egg rolls, Korean corn dogs, Japanese American Teppanyaki, Filipino barbecue, Malaysian cuisine, Thai food, sushi, hibachi, and desserts like mango sticky rice, rolled ice cream, and Chinese pastries, among many other dishes.

• Vendors from several cities across the country, including Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Nashville, and more.

• A market fair with over 20 vendors selling crafts, clothing, accessories, and other merchandise inspired by Asian culture, including traditional calligraphy art, artisanal t-shirts, panda-themed trinkets, and more.

• Panda-themed items and fun on full display, including a massive 15-foot inflatable panda, a panda bounce ring, and vendors offering panda-themed treats and trinkets.

• Live cultural performances and craft demonstrations, with highlights like lion dance shows, theatrical acts, K-pop dance routines, sugar painting, paper cutting, and more.

TICKETS:

Panda Fest tickets are currently sold out, but those interested in attending can join a ticket waitlist here. Additionally, on each morning of the event at 12 a.m., a limited number of single-day tickets will be released for purchase. Tickets will be first come, first serve and available here. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the gate. If you purchased a ticket for one time slot, you are welcome to attend the festival on the same day outside of that time slot, but you cannot change your ticket to another date. No refunds will be permitted.

BAG POLICY:

Please bring small bags only – all bags may be subject to search upon entry.

CHILD POLICY:

Panda Fest is family-friendly, and children of all ages are welcome to attend! Strollers are allowed. Children ages 6 and up do require a ticket for entry.

PETS:

Dogs are welcome to join you at Panda Fest, but they must be on a leash at all times, well-behaved, have current vaccinations, and wear identification tags.

• Aggressive behavior will not be tolerated, and any dogs displaying aggressive behavior will be asked to leave.

• Dogs must be kept away from food vendors and eating areas.

• Owners are responsible for all clean-up as needed.

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

• Roller skates

• Skateboards

• Any form of weapon

• Self-defense spray/pepper spray

• Smoking and smoking products (including vaping, cigarettes, etc.)

• Illegal drugs

• Outside food or beverages

VENDOR PURCHASING:

Vendors can accept both cash and credit cards. Panda Fest will not have ATMs on-site.

WEATHER:

Panda Fest is a rain-or-shine event and umbrellas are allowed.

PARKING:

Parking is available in Atlantic Station’s parking deck at 1371 17th 1/2 St NW. Parking in the deck is free for 2 hours.

To access Atlantic Station’s Pinnacle Lot:

By Car: To access the Pinnacle Lot event entrance, park on the P2 level of the parking deck and exit straight ahead near Stairwell 2 out onto 20th Street.

Walking: Take Stairwells 1, 2, 3, or 4 down to the P2 level of the parking deck. Exit out straight ahead onto 20th Street.

Rideshare: Use this drop off location for the Pinnacle Lot if you’re taking Uber, Lyft, or any other Rideshare service:

241 20th Street Atlanta, GA 30363

MARTA: Take the red or gold line to Arts Center Station. The Pinnacle Lot is about a 20-minute walk from the station, or you can take the free Atlantic Station shuttle to the Atlantic Drive stop. This stop is about a 5-minute walk to the event. Stay tuned on the Panda Fest Instagram (@pandafestatlanta) for all the latest information on the festival.

ABOUT PANDA FEST: Launched in 2024, Panda Fest is one of the biggest outdoor Asian food festivals in the U.S. With experiential activities, tastings, market fairs, and performances, the festival brings people from various backgrounds together to celebrate and experience the vibrant food, art, and traditions of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures. Pandas are a central theme displayed throughout the festival, with panda-themed inflatables, games and activities, merchandise, and foods available for festival attendees to enjoy. The festival originated as a one-day event called Panda Day, created by BiuBiu Xu, the founder of New York City’s popular Dragon Fest. Panda Fest is now a multi-day experience, expanding in 2025 to cities like Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and more to

come. For more information on Panda Fest, visit www.pandafests.com, and follow along on Instagram.