By Srishti Prabha

This May, Sacramento has a stacked lineup of events to mark Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. With AAPI communities making up 20% of Sacramento County’s population, the celebrations carry particular weight regionally.

Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who is hosting the 50th Anniversary of Hmong American Day, underscores how such events honor community history and visibility.

“I often reflect on my grandparents’ journey and the sacrifices that were made so that the younger generation can have a better life,” she said. “And the anniversary for me is a reminder to ensure that we continue to build a future that is rooted in justice, healing and belonging.”

Vang’s event is one of many this month seeking to celebrate AAPI culture and educate non-Asian Sacramento residents about a diverse and rich history that is often overlooked.

“Even if you’re in cities like Sacramento — which is home to a large, vibrant Hmong community — the general public may not know much about our history,” Vang explained. “This event is a reminder of our presence here.”

From legislative action and art showcases to flash tattoos and night markets, AAPI Heritage Month offers numerous opportunities to celebrate the voices and stories of our local AAPI communities.

Heritage through community art

Various dates: Inbetween Tattoo + Arts is offering something for everyone this month. A collective formerly known as A Space In Between — founded by Chinese-born artist Lin Fei-Fei — entered a new chapter with the launch of its reimagined studio and gallery space in April. Since then, it has quickly become a vibrant force in diversifying Sacramento’s arts landscape. 

As part of the studio’s month-long series of events, they will host “Heritage Through Art” on Friday, May 10, an immersive event featuring an art show, flash tattoos and an Asian-themed fashion show. Later in the month, the studio will lead sip-and-paint workshops. The last stop in the series will be yoga sessions for health and wellness. Inbetween Tattoo + Arts, 425 11th St., Sacramento; various dates and times; registration and admission may be required; see website for more info. 

Celebrate with statewide connections and political action 

Wednesday, May 14: The AAPI Heritage Month Celebration with AJSOCAL combines cultural celebration with political action. The event, hosted at Lucid Winery in Sacramento, will include a moment of recognition for four California changemakers — including State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and Assemblymember Ash Kalra’s legislative director Erika Ngo — who have demonstrated a strong commitment to equity and justice.

Lan Le is a policy advocate with the organization and is planning the event. For Le, the goal is to challenge perceptions about AAPI civic engagement.

“I think there’s a stereotype associated with the AAPI community that we’re not as politically active as other communities, and I want to show that that’s not true,” Le said. “It’s a tribute to all the AAPI folks who are fighting for equity every day, including policymakers, legislative staffers and on-the-ground organizers.”

Le also acknowledges the emotional weight of this year’s celebration, coming on the heels of a challenging period for the AAPI community.

“When it comes to the recent executive orders, they have echoed some of the darkest moments in the history of this country, like the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans and the racial profiling of Muslim Americans after 9/11,” Le said. “It’s important for us to remember our community’s legacy of resistance … because we weren’t passive observers. We fought back through legal battles, through grassroots activism, through cultural preservation.”

Through this effort, Le hopes to raise awareness of the organization’s four priority bills among Asian American communities across the region, ranging from protecting immigrant students from ICE activity at schools to multilingual eviction notices.

Le emphasizes that AAPI communities are often treated as monolithic or invisible in policy discussions, and that events like these are about creating space for nuance and allyship.

“It’s about uplifting the AAPI community, standing up to injustice and pushing for real legislative change,” said Le. “And this is one of the best ways to show that you care for the most marginalized folks within the community.” Lucid Winery & Event Venue, 1015 R St., Sacramento; 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; free, registration required. 

50th years celebrating Hmong American Day

Saturday, May 17: This year, Hmong American Day commemorates 50 years since May 14, 1975 — the day that Long Cheng, a key U.S. Hmong military base in Laos, fell to communist forces. It was also the day that the final U.S. airlift operation evacuated Hmong families to refugee camps in Thailand, paving the way for the first waves of Hmong refugees entering the U.S. later that year.

Today, Sacramento is home to a vibrant Hmong community of more than 30,000 people, making it the third-largest Hmong population in any U.S. metropolitan area.

This milestone celebration will feature 50 vendors, traditional performances, a fashion show, and reflections on the Hmong community’s cultural legacy and resilience. The event is spearheaded by Councilmember Vang, who is the daughter of Hmong refugees. For her, organizing Hmong American Day is deeply personal.

“We’re going to be honoring our veterans who were part of the CIA’s Secret War in Laos when the United States recruited members from our community to fight,” she said. “Because … without the sacrifices of our ancestors, so many of us wouldn’t be here today.”

Vang and Elk Grove School Board Trustee Sean Yang co-created the event in collaboration with local organizations like Hmong Nurses Association, Hmong Youth and Parents United, Lao Family Community Development and others. 

“I often think 50 years from now where will the Hmong community be?” reflected Vang. “I hope that from the event, [Hmong youth] feel proud of their history and their roots, and for them to be inspired to continue to carry it forward.”

She added that the event isn’t just for the Hmong community — it’s also a chance to build understanding across cultures.

“For non-Hmong youth, I hope they gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse stories and histories that have really shaped this country.” Elk Grove Regional Park, 9950 Elk Grove Florin Road, in Elk Grove; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free, all ages. 

Hands-on opportunities at the Crocker 

Various dates: The Crocker Art Museum will host Celebrating Asian Art and Craft on May 22, a hands-on evening dedicated to the artistic contributions of AAPI communities. The event begins with a guided tour led by Amelia Chau, the museum’s adjunct curator of Asian art, featuring Indian, Chinese and Japanese works that honor the themes of renewal and spring. The tour will be followed by a Chinese brush painting workshop taught by artist Joy Kuo.

Chau shared her excitement about newly acquired pieces in the collection that will be on view for the first time. Highlights include 19th-century Japanese screen prints of cherry blossoms and an Indian painting depicting the festival of Holi, dating back to around 1760.

“The Asian collection at the Crocker is one of the oldest collections in the museum — the first Asian objects to enter the collection came in 1925,” she noted. “Some of the major Asian collections in this country don’t have collections that go back that far.” 

Some pieces in the Crocker’s Asian collection date back 4,000 years, and Chau explains that ancient art can serve as a powerful entry point into cultural understanding.

“People make art about things that are important to them,” Chau described. “It’s through objects … that you can learn about what is significant to a culture.”

But the event won’t focus solely on ancient art. Chau is passionate about featuring contemporary works, including a carpet by Azerbaijani artist Faig Ahmed and paintings by Indian American artist Rupy Tut.

“She’s skilled in traditional Indian painting techniques, and she’s applying it with a very personal lens that is very relatable to a contemporary audience,” Chau noted about Tut’s work. “That to me is what brings a tradition alive for audiences when they walk through a museum looking at art that they may not be familiar with.”

If you’re looking for more to do this AAPI month, on Saturday, May 10, the museum will present Conversations on the Collection: Rupy Tut, from 2 to 4 p.m. This event features a discussion led by curator Francesca Wilmott, PhD, exploring connections between historic and contemporary works in the museum’s Asian art collection. The conversation will include dialogue with South Asian artist Rupy Tut, an Oakland-based painter who employs traditional techniques to depict contemporary narratives. Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St., Sacramento; various dates and times; $8-$55; see website for more info. 

AAPI Night Market returns 

Friday, May 30: Capping off the month is the highly anticipated return of the AAPI Night Market — a bustling evening of street food, art, and entertainment that will culminate in a headline performance by Vietnamese American singer thủy. More than 50 local and family-run businesses, including favorites like My Lumpia Lady, Spicy Lao Papaya and Sacramento Pop Up Truck, will gather for one of the region’s largest AAPI celebrations, recreating the sights, sounds and smells of East and Southeast Asia.

Matt Sumida, senior director of marketing and community relations with the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is leading the charge in bringing back the energy and warmth that defined Sacramento’s first AAPI Night Market in 2022. 

“The AAPI Night Market is more than just an event,” Sumida wrote in an email. “It’s a moment of pride and connection for our community, and a space where we can share the stories, food, and traditions of AAPI cultures with the broader Sacramento community.”

To him, night markets represent an unspoken bond that ties Asian Americans together.

“For many of us, night markets remind us of home or childhood visits abroad,” he wrote. “It’s a way to honor where we come from, while creating new memories with our community here.”

In addition to food vendors and live performances, the event also highlights local, rising entrepreneurs, cultural organizations and wellness programming. Sumida said the aim is not just to entertain, but to uplift and reflect the community’s full spectrum.

“There are so many beautiful, unexpected moments,” he wrote. “Like watching a grandparent bond with their grandchild over a dish they grew up with, or seeing a young business owner sell out of their product for the first time. Those are the moments that stay with us.”

Capitol Mall, 400 Capitol Mall, in Sacramento; 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; $34-$215, free for children under age 4. 
This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Support stories like these here, and sign up for our monthly newsletter.