May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! This is a time to recognize the history, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
As we celebrate, Fairmount Park Conservancy is proud to highlight the Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park. A hub of cultural diversity and honored at this year’s Centennial Celebration, the market has a remarkable history.
Located in South Philadelphia’s FDR Park, the critically acclaimed Southeast Asian Market attracts visitors from all over the world with an array of traditional dishes, culturally specific produce, plants, clothing, jewelry, and more. This one-of-a-kind marketplace is home to dozens of vendors from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. These refugees and immigrants found a haven in FDR Park and have maintained a vending community there for over 35 years.
Pidor Apyang, President of the Southeast Asian Market, accepted the 2024 John K. Binswanger Park Champion award at the Conservancy’s Centennial Celebration.
Pidor said, “Our members, like myself, are refugees and immigrants who came from something to a place where they have nothing. They have endured so many hardships to be able to build a life for themselves and opportunities for their families. They represent challenge, adaptation, economic opportunity, and prosperity all while preserving culture through food.”
For those eager to experience the market firsthand, it is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (to receive notifications about closures or delays, follow the market on social media)
If you’d like to learn even more about the market on your next visit, we invite you to join us for one of our Market Tours, hosted by Fairmount Park Conservancy and Vendors Association of FDR Park. These guided excursions provide a unique opportunity to connect with local vendors, learn about the cultural heritage behind each stall, and gain insights into the market’s role in fostering community bonds. Dates and times below:
Saturday, 5/18 from 9:45 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. | $10
Saturday, 7/13 from 9:45 a.m.— 11:30 a.m. | $20
Saturday, 8/17 from 9:45 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. | $20
Saturday, 9/28 from 10:45 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. | $20
Saturday, 10/26 from 10:45 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. | $20
The Southeast Asian Market is open from May through October. We are excited to share that the market will have a permanent home in FDR Park, thanks to our FDR Park Plan, ensuring its continued presence as a beloved cultural hub for generations. Read more about it in our community spotlight blog post about Sarun Chan, Executive Director of the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia.
Photography by Albert Yee.
