Celebrate Filipino American art and culture at L.A.’s Levitt Pavilion this weekend

A free, long-running community festival this Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles celebrates Filipino heritage, arts and culture.

The 29th Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture happens Friday, Sept. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion in L.A.’s MacArthur Park. The theme is “Para Sa Lahat,” or “For Everyone.”

The family event is hosted by FilAm ARTS – a nonprofit that advocates for the advancement and awareness of Filipino American culture  – and will include art showcases, vendors, Filipino food and performances from community artists and cultural dance groups.

The festival was formed in 1990 as part of the L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs festivals program, an artistic initiative that caters to the diverse population of the city. The first event had 3,000 participants and took place at Los Angeles City College on May 14, 1992, following the L.A. riots that occurred the week before.

The festival moved to Cabrillo Beach in 1994, then to Pt. Fermin Park in 2001 and Echo Park in 2017.

The annual celebration is the longest-running Filipino-American festival in Los Angeles, organizers say. A three-day virtual event was held during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The festival returned for the first time in person after a five-year hiatus in 2022.

Research shows that over 500,000 Filipino Americans live in the Los Angeles area.

Friday night’s line-up will include performances by The Mellow Dees, Introvoys, DJ Icy Ice and Jocelyn Enriquez. On Saturday evening, people can look forward to entertainment from artists Gingee, Kayamanan Ng Lahi, the Malaya Dance Company, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble and the Rondalla Club of Los Angeles.

To register free and for more information, visit filamarts-fpac.org.