Festival celebrates Utah's many Asian cultures

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Aashima Acharya performs with the Nepalese dance group at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Traditional Asian dancers join with Cosplayers at the conclusion of the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Anushiya Arumgasa, 9, dancers with the Sri Lankan dance group at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Cosplayers dance during the Cosplay parade at the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Sri Lankan dance group performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Arirang dance group from Korea, performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Nepalese dance group performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center on Saturday.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Nepalese dance group performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Nepalese dancer, Anju Thapaliya dances with 9-year-old Emma Stevenson, Farmington, as the audience joined traditional Asian dancers and Cosplayers at the conclusion of the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

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Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Aashima Acharya performs with the Nepalese dance group at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Traditional Asian dancers join with Cosplayers at the conclusion of the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Anushiya Arumgasa, 9, dancers with the Sri Lankan dance group at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Cosplayers dance during the Cosplay parade at the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The Sri Lankan dance group performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The Arirang dance group from Korea, performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Cosplayers dance during the Cosplay parade at the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The Nepalese dance group performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center on Saturday. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The Nepalese dance group performs at the Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Nepalese dancer, Anju Thapaliya dances with 9-year-old Emma Stevenson, Farmington, as the audience joined traditional Asian dancers and Cosplayers at the conclusion of the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Traditional Asian dancers join with Cosplayers at the conclusion of the 39th Utah Asian Festival, at the South Towne Exposition Center, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· June 14, 2016 8:02 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Amid food and fashion, pageantry and performances, Utah's Asian communities celebrated their heritage Saturday in Sandy.

The 39th Utah Asian Festival at the South Towne Exposition Center also featured a parade, a lion dance, a dragon boat ride, even a countries cook-off.

According to a news release, the cultures on display included Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Taiwanese, Thai, Tibetan and Vietnamese.