Asia Society Texas’ Night Market Returns as Record Crowd Enjoys Expanded Festival’s Carnival Games, Unity Wall, Sumo Wrestling, and More
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HOUSTON, November 14, 2021 — Asia Society Texas (ASTX) welcomed more than 7,000 guests for Night Market 2021 presented by American First National Bank on Friday, November 12, to enjoy an evening of food, shopping, all-ages activities, and new features.
The free festival, in its eighth annual edition after a one-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated Houston’s arts and food scenes with an expanded footprint as more than 50 vendors, artisans, and partners filled both stories of Asia Society’s building, the Festival Lawn, and the surrounding block.
New this year, a Unity Wall interactive installation invited guests to write down what they can do to build a more inclusive society and add their pledge to the wall. ASTX board member Gordon Quan and Texas State Rep. Gene Wu launched the Unity Wall activation and encouraged guests to participate and use the wall to strengthen, not divide our community. Throughout the night, the wall became a colorful visualization of our community’s commitment to inclusivity.
Other new activations included sumo wrestling demonstrations by Shōgeki Sumo, sand painting and Chinese calligraphy presented by Huaxing Arts Group, American Mah Jongg and Chinese Mahjong tables, an Otaku Alley area highlighting Japanese pop culture, and table tennis with professional players presented with the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority ahead of the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships in Houston.
Back by popular demand, the Night Market beer garden returned, featuring a wider selection of Asian beers as well street foods by Pepper Twins and Shun Japanese Kitchen for the sold-out crowd. Guests also enjoyed free admission to the exhibition Divine Spark: Kana Harada; K-pop dances by KLOVR, Wonderbox, and Youphoria; and all-ages games and activities at the Korean-inspired Night in Seoul carnival.
American First National Bank has been a longtime supporter of Night Market and other art and cultural programs at Asia Society Texas. Night Market sponsors include Divya and Chris Brown, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, Puranik Foundation, The Southwest Management District, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation, with The Cho Family Charitable Fund on behalf of the Houston Korean Education Center providing support for the Night in Seoul carnival. Additional support came from Chow Down in Chinatown, Jusgo Supermarket, Teri and Jeff Lee, International Management District, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston.
Drawing inspiration from street markets found in East and Southeast Asia, Asia Society Texas’ annual Night Market celebrates Houston’s Asian and Asian American communities while also engaging visitors through thought-provoking exhibitions and all-ages activities. The next Night Market is expected to take place in fall 2022.
- View more photos in our Flickr album »
Previous Night Market Events
2020: Virtual Night Market
2019: Highlights | Details
2018: Highlights | Details
2017: Highlights | Details
2016: Highlights | Details
2015: Highlights | Details
2014: Details
2013: Highlights | Details
About Asia Society Texas
Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.
