Hundreds Attend Austin’s First Ever Panda Fest

By Michael Karlis

Reporting Texas

Hundreds of folks headed to Austin’s Republic Square over the weekend for the city’s first-ever Panda Fest – a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Traditions, according to organizers. 

Started in 2024 in New York, Panda Fest hit  the road this year, hitting cities including Dallas, Seattle and Charlotte, to name a few. 

“I found out about it through my coworkers,” Panda Fest attendee Alyssa Leamy said. “They were telling me about it, and I was like ‘Ok, I’m down to go and try different foods.”

Austin’s Panda Fest featured more than 40 food vendors and 30 merchandise tables, selling everything from panda-themed backpacks to panda keychains and even panda cowboy hats. 

Despite the festival’s near limitless food options like multicolored eggrolls, Asian beef on a stick, and mochinuts – a fusion-style donut made from Japanese mochi and American donuts – the biggest complaint at Austin’s Panda Fest was the prices. 

“It’s definitely a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. I thought it would be more spread out,” Panda Fest attendee Liana Rivera said. “It’s a very fun vibe, but it’s very overpriced in my opinion.” 

Entrance to the festival cost $20 per person, and it was hard to find a plate of food for less than $15. Panda Fest attendee Michelle Craft, who drove all the way from Hutto, said that her Panda Fest lemonade, which she got for $27 and came in a souvenir panda cup, was watered down. 

“I think the ice melted in it, but the cup is cute,” Craft said. 

Craft added that she wouldn’t recommend the drink to other festival attendees.

“If you want the cup, then yes,” Craft said. “If you’re thirsty, no.”

A quick online search reveals several negative reviews of Panda Fest in Austin and other cities. 

A Reddit thread on R/austinfood even described Panda Fest as “a total scam.”

Reddit user @sean_ireland commented: “Are there any food festivals that are not rip-off money grabs?”

Panda Fest organizers did not respond to Reporting Texas’ request for comment on the concerns about pricing and attendee experience. 

Despite complaints about food costs, Grzanich said he liked the array of entertainment, which included K-pop performances, traditional Chinese folk music, and other acts. 

“It’s still fun, there’s still good stuff to look at,” Grzanich. “It just seems really overpriced.”

Panda Fest will head to Phoenix later this week. To find out more information about Panda Fest on the event’s official website.