Panda Fest DC

90 Vendors, 200 Street Foods, One Avenue

One of the biggest Asian food festivals in the country makes its DC debut in August, taking over Pennsylvania Avenue between 4th and 7th Streets. Panda Fest runs Saturday, August 15 from 10am to 10pm and Sunday, August 16 from 10am to 8pm, with more than 90 vendors serving 200-plus street foods: soup dumplings, takoyaki, Korean corn dogs, mango sago, and a few things your kids will dare each other to try. Between bites, lion dances and cultural performances run on stage all day.

For families, this is basically a giant outdoor food court with a show, and kids treat it exactly that way. Entry is ticketed (grab them on the festival's site ahead of time), food is purchased separately, and the smart move is arriving at opening: by lunch, the famous vendors' lines triple and the August sun is fully awake. It's steps from Archives and Navy Memorial Metro, so leave the car at home and bring an appetite instead.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Arrive at 10am sharp. Shortest lines, coolest temps, and the vendors' first, freshest batches.
• ✓Set a food budget per person. Everything looks amazing and small portions add up fast.
• ✓Split and share everything. More dishes tried per dollar, and picky eaters can bail without waste.
• ✓Hydrate on purpose. August on asphalt is serious. Buy the big water early, refill often.
• ✓Grab tickets ahead. Entry is ticketed and the DC debut is likely to draw a crowd; buy online before you go.