SAN FRANCISCO, California—The largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States is back and bigger than ever, this year showcasing the return of the Asian Arts & Crafts World Market, an extravaganza of special and unique hand-made products and artworks.

The fair will also feature a scrumptious collection of pan Asian delights and sweets, along with the Bay Area’s favorite food trucks.

For the first time ever, the fair will feature celebrity cooking demonstrations – including a lesson from renown chef Martin Yan and Slanted Door’s Charles Phan!

To get the day off to a good start, Thai monks from Wat Buddhapradeep in San Bruno to perform blessing at Fulton St. Stage to kickoff festivities at 10 a.m. Then officially kicking off the fair at 11 a.m., will be the Faces of Asia Cultural Procession – a dazzling display of traditional ethnic attire with nearly 200 participants, organized by Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center.

Popular returning fair features for people of all ages include the j-cars, wine area, children’s area, healthy living pavilion, cultural procession, free film screenings presented by the Center for Asian American Media, along with performances by Asian American artists, DJs, and martial arts experts. The fair will also offer free hepatitis B screenings.

The Arts & Crafts World Market will showcase the best and most creative Asian-themed arts and crafts items. All vendors will be carefully juried and shoppers can expect to find the highest level of hand-crafted goods. Fairgoers will also be able to enjoy free general admission to Asian Art Museum courtesy of Target.

The 8th annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held Saturday, May 19, 2012 in San Francisco, in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District. The event is free and open to the public.