Suwanee Town Center Park is home to some of the city's most beloved community events, but back in 2021, Michelle Kang noticed a glaring gap. Despite Suwanee's growing diversity, there was no celebration specifically honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. That's when she felt a strong calling to create something new.

In 2022, Michelle reached out to Suwanee's City Event Manager, Amy Doherty, and was fortunate to secure the last available date for May 2023—just in time for AAPI Heritage Month. With no team and little external support, Michelle single-handedly planned, organized, and executed the first event. And still, the community showed up: over 1,000 attendees gathered to experience a vibrant blend of culture, cuisine, and community.

By 2024, a dedicated volunteer stepped in to help, and it became clear that the festival needed more structure to meet its growing potential. Now in its third year, the Suwanee Asian Festival has been rebranded and expanded. We've launched a full website, social media presence, and brought on a small paid team to manage administration, vendor and performer outreach, and marketing.