MARBLEHEAD— It was a vibrant afternoon inside the Marblehead High School fieldhouse Saturday as the town held its first Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration, presented by the Task Force Against Discrimination.

The event featured immersive cultural performances and activities, from traditional Cambodian dances, to dragons dancing to a beat, played by members of Calvin Chin’s Martial Arts Academy, and origami folding.

Asian-inspired eats were also available outside to attendees via a Bon Me food truck. In addition, there was a lineup of multiple speakers who were able to share stories about their heritage.

The event was sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts AAPI Commission, the Creative County Initiative, and the Marblehead Racial and Justice Team. With an AAPI Heritage Month celebration now brought to town, TFAD member Kim Gubelman, who helped organize the event, hopes to continue educating others in the region.

“Our goal is to bring more AAPI cultural awareness to Marblehead and surrounding communities,” Gubelman said.

Gubelman also thanked the sponsors of the celebration, saying “We’re very grateful for their support in order to make this event happen!”