Block party will celebrate Asian culture

Students looking to have fun the week before finals can look no further than UCF’s campus.

On Wednesday, April 18, the Korean Student Association and the Chinese American Student Association will be having their fifth annual KSA and CASA Block Party.

The party will bring a taste of Asian culture to UCF and is free for faculty and students. The event, which will include free food, prizes and performances, will be held at Memory Mall between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The KSA and CASA Block Party always includes live entertainment, but this year the organizations are stepping up their game with hit YouTube star Clara Chung.

KSA President Dany Son said the event usually attracts 1,800 people, but this year both organizations are expecting a bigger turnout.

“This is the first time we’ve ever got someone like popular singer Clara C from YouTube,” Son said. “We usually expect about 1,800 people to come out, but this year we aim to attract about 2,200-2,500 people with the special guests.”

The block party was originally created to showcase the Asian culture and community within UCF, Son said. Both organizations chose to come together and organize one big block party that would attract a larger demographic.

“KSA and CASA decided to collaborate because it was a lot easier to plan and organize when we combine our efforts,” said Ron Hon, president of CASA.

Hon said both organizations have been hard at work for months and are now putting together the last final touches for the block party, which is their most well-known event.

“We’ve been planning since October, a lot of hard work is involved in putting it together, but a having successful event is very rewarding,” Hon said.

For those interested in learning more about Asian culture, both organizations aim to provide students with an informative outlook on customs and traditions in Asian societies.

Hon, who has been in CASA for four years, said he decided to become a member to learn more about his past and embrace his culture.

Being of Asian descent is not a requirement for either organization. Eric DeMattos, current member of the Korean Student Association, is of Brazilian heritage, not Korean.

DeMattos said he joined his freshman year to help out with the block party and become more exposed to the Asian culture.

“I really loved the block party so I joined the committee responsible for putting it together when I was a freshman,” DeMattos said. “Over these past few years I’ve been able to learn a lot through performances and interacting with others in the Asian community.”

In addition to the performances, the block party will also feature interactive games and free prizes.

“We have lots of games and activities lined up like an obstacle course, basketball, a joust gladiator game and a bungee run,” Son said.

Along with the games there will be raffle prizes for gift cards and T-shirts. The Asian-themed party will also include foods like sushi, fried rice and lo mein, all for free.

For more information on the event, contact any member of KSA or CASA.