The festival will feature a number of sponsors, including Drake, among 13 Asian villages: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Laotian, Nepalese, Taidam, Thai and Vietnamese. Drake’s tent will be located in the Hmong Village area. The Drake law student organization — Asian Pacific American Law Students Association — will also have a tent sponsored by the law firm of Feagre & Benson located in the Nepalese Village.
The Asian groups will represent their communities through crafts, history, art, gifts and food. There will be music, dancing, singing, games and other cultural presentations. Food featured ranges from traditional stir-fry to exotic curries and papaya salad to fusion fair food (meat on a stick).
The festival will also include a Takraw Tournament — a sport similar to volleyball in which players use only feet, chest, knees and head. A Next SensAsian Talent Competition divided into singing and dancing categories will also take place.
Other sponsors include: The Iowa Asian Alliance event Champion Sponsored by Des Moines Register, Lite 104.1, Mediacom, Bravo Greater Des Moines, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Prairie Meadows, Principal Financial Group and Wellmark BlueCross BlueShield.