With Eastern lanterns illuminating the sky, arrays of small businesses setting up stands and picnic blankets riddled on the grass of Lotus Plaza and lively chatter, Washington D.C.’s Chinatown hosted the D.C. Asian Night Market Pop-Up on Sept. 19.

The event is held annually to shed light on Asian, Pacific Islander and Hawaiian small businesses and artists residing within the D.C. area. It features various booths serving a diverse assortment of cuisines from Asia and the Pacific Islands, as well as a myriad of music and dance performances.

This year, a plethora of McLean students participated in the community event on behalf of the school’s International Club. On a typical day, the club hosts various multi-cultural activities, including cultural presentations, which give a voice to students from unique cultural backgrounds, as well as potlucks.

“Our club’s philosophy revolves around fostering a welcoming, informative and diverse environment,” International Club president Maged Alqabany said.

Taking advantage of McLean’s close proximity to the heart of America’s diplomatically connected capital, the International Club organizes visits to embassies and volunteer opportunities at community cultural events, including the D.C. Asian Night Market event.

“I joined the International Club so I could help out my community and contribute to representing [and] sharing my Asian culture beyond school,” Thai American junior Micheal Dempsey said. “So when I saw the International Club looking for volunteers for the Asian Night Market event, I was keen to lend my efforts to the cause.”

Each year, the pop-up market is made possible with the committed efforts of the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA), the Department of Small and Local Business Development and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bower, who gave the speech commencing the 2024 Night Market. McLean International Club’s connection to the annual D.C. Asian Night Market has grown into a cross-community tradition.

“[The] previous leader [of the International Club] was the one that first discovered this event two years ago and began encouraging McLean students to participate,” Alqabany said. “With her continued efforts each year in helping bring the Night Market to life, the International Club was able to establish connections with the [D.C.] Mayor herself and she started inviting us back to bring our members to help volunteer.”

During the seven-hour-long event spanning from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., volunteering International Club students aided in set up, signing guests in, crowd control, event guidance and eventual cleanup. Bilingual students were also able to utilize their language abilities to interpret for foreign visitors.

Alongside volunteering, students were also given the chance to explore the premises and engage with the booths themselves.

“The opportunity allows people to delve into different cultures,” Alqabany said. “The food offered at the event allows people to be exposed to the cuisines of various locations in Asia and it’s a good way for individuals to educate themselves and directly expose themselves to Asian cultures that they otherwise may not get to interact with in everyday life.”

This sentiment was relayed by D.C. locals who attended to celebrate and appreciate the minority artists in the area and minority-owned small businesses in the area.

“I heard about this event from my roommate who was looking for Autumn community events and festivals that we could attend,” attendee Cassidy Barnes said. “I’ve been having a good time; I’ve recently been into listening to the Chinese piccolo and I was so delighted to be able to hear a performance in person.”

The MOAPIA will continue to host events highlighting Asian and Pacific Islander experiences and culture in the near future. Notably, the Vietnamese Night at the Museum, where guests can participate in crafts and educate themselves on Vietnam’s rich food, literature, fine art and music culture, as well as UNESCO destinations, will be held on Oct. 4.

Students interested in engaging in cultural events, earning service hours and contributing to enriching the diverse NOVA community are also encouraged to join the International Club. They host meetings every other Thursday in room B173.