Panda Fest was held in Hartford the weekend of Sept. 27 and 28.

By Pattie Weiss Levy

West met East last weekend when town residents and others from near and far didn’t just flock to Connecticut’s first-ever Panda Fest – they flocked… and flocked… and flocked.

The two-day event, held at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in downtown Hartford, drew an estimated 30,000-plus visitors on Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28. Advance tickets, offered for specific time slots for $16.97 each, had already completely sold out before the event began. Thousands of people arrived to purchase same-day admission, however – so many that some had to be turned away or asked to return later.

Billed as one of the country’s largest outdoor Asian food festivals, the popular event has already been staged in many other cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. West Hartford resident Jeannette Punsoni Dardenne was instrumental in bringing it here versus other state locations under consideration, including New Haven and Fairfield County.

“Hartford was chosen because I believe in its vibrancy and potential as a cultural destination,” said Dardenne, a business and marketing consultant who served as the local PR representative for the event.

More than 50 food trucks and 10 vendors selling panda-themed merchandise, along with live entertainment, including Chinese acrobats, K-Pop performances, and Thai ribbon dancers, helped make the city a cultural destination indeed.

“I think it’s amazing! I think it’s awesome!” said West Hartford resident Liz Pang. Although she had previously attended a Panda Fest in New York, she was especially impressed by the size of this one. “I thought it was just what you first saw at the top,” she said. “But then you go downstairs and it’s to the right and the left, and there’s this beautiful riverfront you can enjoy.”

Not everyone was as enthusiastic about the magnitude of the festivities, though. “Honestly, we’re leaving a little early,” admitted Amber Monet, another town resident. “It’s really packed, and the lines are long, so we didn’t get to fully enjoy it as much as we wanted.” Even so, she allowed, “It’s really nice – the music especially – and I’m glad Connecticut is doing something like this.”

Angela L. of East Hartford agreed. “It’s nice that people are out, but it’s crowded,” she said as she posed in front of a giant inflatable panda with her young daughter, Audrey. “I would like to eat every single thing here, but the lines are too long.”

A West Hartford native and former Hall High graduate named Mila concurred. “It’s very nice, but right now it’s mobbed,” she said.

Just as a classic 1960s advertising campaign asserted that you did not have to be Jewish to love Levy’s rye bread, you did not need to be Asian to enjoy Panda Fest. The distinctly multicultural crowd included people of every conceivable ethnicity, age, and background. There were also innumerable dogs evident (well-behaved pets on leashes were allowed) and at least one young woman dressed as a panda herself.

Kat Krasnicki of Hartford, decked out in black and white with panda ears, explained that she enjoys cosplay and often appears in anime costumes. “She warned me that no one else would dress up, but I did it anyway,” Krasnicki said of her friend Jasmine Ocasio, explaining that they had come mostly for the food. “It looked yummy,” she said, declaring that it was, in fact, as good as it looked, “especially the sesame cakes filled with meat.”

“She had the lamb,” Ocasio said. “I had the beef.”

Other culinary offerings included “homemade” bao buns filled with everything from classic braised pork belly to Peking duck, knife-cut noodles, technicolor candied fruit skewers, and large whole-tentacled squids jiggling on sticks. There were also a variety of iced Asian beverages, including pale green matcha latte, caramel-colored Vietnamese coffee, and lavender-hued “ube cloud” coconut water.

Many of these delicacies came at what some attendees considered daunting prices. Korean corn dogs, most bao buns, and many noodle dishes ran $15 each. Exotic fruit juices served in panda-shaped jars cost $25. Then there were the Hawaiian honey cones – giant J-shaped ice cream treats with a small mound of soft serve on either end for $20 apiece.

Neither the lengthy lines nor lofty price tags managed to deter most people from queuing up or shelling out, though. Brenda Cazales and her sister Dianna, from Willimantic, waited over half an hour for cups of Korean shaved ice topped with fresh mango and strawberries. “Yes, it was a long line, but it was worth it,” Brenda said as she gleefully dug in.

For those who missed the event, as well as those who enjoyed it enough to return, there is good news. Another fest is already planned for next year. There is also even better news: In view of the many issues that arose, some changes will be made.

“Our goal with Panda Fest has always been to celebrate Asian food and culture while creating an inclusive space that brings people together,” Dardenne said. “While we are proud of the turnout and the many positive experiences, we also recognize that the high demand and enthusiasm created challenges, including crowding, long lines, and concerns about food pricing.”

For that reason, they are already considering ways to improve, from seeking a larger venue and enhancing line management and flow to providing more affordable food options.

“Panda Fest is committed to learning from this year’s experience,” Dardenne said, “so they can continue to grow in a way that reflects and respects the community.”

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.