TJ Manotoc

Cerritos to Host LA County’s First and Largest Ube Festival in 2025

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>CERRITOS, CA – Los Angeles County is set to witness a historic celebration of Filipino culture as UbeFest 2025, the county’s first and largest ube-themed festival, takes over Don Knabe Park in Cerritos on April 26. Anticipated to draw over 10,000 attendees, the event will highlight not only the beloved purple yam but also the vibrancy of Filipino cuisine, small businesses, arts, and heritage.</p><div><br/></div><p>Originally created in 2021 by James Oreste as a pop-up event in Long Beach with a handful of ube-based vendors, UbeFest quickly grew into a cultural phenomenon. The inaugural festival saw three-hour lines and sell-outs across the board, leading to expansions in cities like Berkeley, New Jersey, St. Louis, and even Indianapolis as part of Spark Fest.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>UbeFest 2025 promises a full day of Filipino food vendors, Fil-Am businesses, interactive exhibits, and live entertainment, merging tradition with modern Filipino creativity. Far more than a food event, the festival aims to be a cultural destination, where people from all backgrounds can experience the warmth and diversity of Filipino identity.</p><div><br/></div><p>Central to the festival’s growth in LA County is Lynda Johnson, Cerritos Mayor Pro Tem and Special Assistant to LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn. A longtime advocate for the Filipino American community, Johnson played a pivotal role in turning Oreste’s dream into a large-scale cultural initiative.</p><div><br/></div><p>Recognizing the potential impact of UbeFest, Johnson brought the idea to the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Cerritos, led by Ellen Rodriguez-Swing, Demeven Quirino, Christine Consunji, and Ron Dizon. The chamber had already built a strong track record of empowering small businesses and promoting community-based development across the Gateway Cities.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIUFo04Pwtd/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=964&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A303836%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="2625" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>With broad support—including from Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, FilAm Arts, the Pilipino Workers Center, and the Philippine Nurses Association of Southern California—UbeFest 2025 is positioned to become a landmark celebration not just for the Filipino American community, but for all of Los Angeles County.</p><div><br/></div><p>The event runs from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM and will conclude just in time to kick off the City of Cerritos’ anniversary celebration, making for a full day of festivities centered on community, culture, and connection.</p>

<p>LA is set to witness a historic celebration of Pinoy culture as UbeFest 2025, the county’s first &amp; largest ube-themed festival, takes over Don Knabe Park in Cerritos on Apr 26. It will highlight the beloved purple yam as well as the vibrancy of Filipino cuisine, small businesses, arts, and heritage.</p>

LA is set to witness a historic celebration of Pinoy culture as UbeFest 2025, the county’s first & largest ube-themed festival, takes over Don Knabe Park in Cerritos on Apr 26. It will highlight the beloved purple yam as well as the vibrancy of Filipino cuisine, small businesses, arts, and heritage.