Culture Calendar
South Asian Independence Day bazaars, Asia Times Square Mid-Autumn, Plano Otsukimi, and diaspora festivals across Frisco, Plano, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, and Arlington.
July is AFFD at Angelika. August stacks Anand Bazaar in Frisco and Quaid Mela in Allen. September is Dallas Moon Festival, Asia Times Square Mid-Autumn, and Plano Otsukimi. October brings McKinney Asian Art & Food, Irving dragon boats, and Diwali weekend.
Dallas, Texas
The 3rd Annual Dallas Moon Festival Mid-Autumn Asian Heritage Celebration lands Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 2–8 p.m. at Flag Pole Hill Park with free admission.
Fort Worth, Texas
Anime Fest at the Modern runs September 18–20, 2026 in Fort Worth with six anime screenings, scholar introductions, and $10 tickets ($7 for members).
Image: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Grand Prairie, Texas
Asia Times Square’s 19th Mid-Autumn Festival runs free September 18–20, 2026 in Grand Prairie with outdoor family programming under the full-moon weekend cluster.
Image: Asia Times Square
Richardson, Texas
Crow Museum of Asian Art hosts a free Community Day on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from noon to 4 p.m. at the UT Dallas Athenaeum with art-making, live programming, and open galleries.
Image: Crow Museum of Asian Art
Irving, Texas
MoMo Festival returns Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 2–10 p.m. at Levy Event Plaza in Irving with Himalayan food, live entertainment, and ticketed entry.
Plano, Texas
JASDFW’s free Otsukimi Japanese Moon Viewing Festival lands Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 6–10 p.m. at Haggard Park in downtown Plano with taiko, demos, and a food pavilion.
Image: Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth
McKinney, Texas
McKinney Asian Art & Food Festival runs free October 2–3, 2026 at 401 E Virginia Street with Friday evening and Saturday daytime hours under a 2026 pinwheel theme.
Frisco, Texas
Sangeeta Bharati’s 6th Dallas Navarātri Sangeeta & Nrutyōtsav runs October 3–4, 2026 at 9360 Pasadena Drive in Frisco with classical Indian music and dance programming.
Irving, Texas
The 17th Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Kite & Lantern Festival lands Sunday, October 4, 2026 (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) at Levy Event Plaza on Lake Carolyn in Irving with free admission.
McKinney, Texas
Grand Diwali Mela / Dallas Festival of Lights lands Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Myers Park in McKinney with carnival energy, bazaar stalls, Ram Leela, and family programming.
Image: Dallas Festival of Lights
The Colony, Texas
Grandscape hosts The Great Indian Diwali Festival of Lights Sunday, October 25, 2026 in The Colony with lights, performances, cuisine, and arts shopping.
Past Dallas–Fort Worth listings stay live for recaps and next-year bookmarks.
Dallas, Texas
Nova Pangea’s free Senbazuru Dallas project runs August 15 and September 5, 2026 at Forest Green Branch Library with a community origami crane workshop and a later immersive multimedia concert.
Image: Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth
Allen, Texas
PSNT’s Quaid Mela celebrates Pakistan Independence Day Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Southfork Ranch in Allen with free entry, free parking, vendors, and cultural entertainment.
Frisco, Texas
IANT's Anand Bazaar is free Saturday, August 15, 2026, 2 to 10 p.m., indoors at Comerica Center in Frisco. Claim a ticket first.
Image: India Association of North Texas
Dallas, Texas
AFFD’s 25th edition runs July 23–26, 2026 at Angelika Film Center Dallas (Mockingbird Station) with premieres, repertory titles, and paid festival tickets.
Image: Asian Film Festival of Dallas
Film, TV, music, and culture coverage from Goldscene. Not just what's on the calendar.
What to Watch
Dating shows, competition formats, and personality-driven reality are traveling as remakeable IP. Korean variety no longer needs the original cast to become internationally famous to sell abroad.
Today's Radar
Velveting is the Chinese prep step that keeps stir-fry chicken and shrimp tender instead of rubbery: a cornstarch-and-oil coat, a rest, then a quick par-cook before the wok. Here is how it works and why diaspora cooks are finally seeing the name match the method.
Brand Watch
Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick called Misha Japanwala’s bronze collar for Lupita Nyong’o’s Helen of Troy a “broken statue.” The Karachi-raised sculptor got the job the old-fashioned Hollywood way: a friend who already trusted her work brought her in.
Get Friday's concise edit of Asian entertainment, a finished watch queue, and culture dates worth saving.
