First Ever LA County Ube Festival Comes To Cerritos

CERRITOS, CA — The first ever countywide UbeFest is coming to Cerritos this weekend, highlighting the vibrant vegetable commonly used in Filipino cuisine.

The purple yam known as Ube (pronounced oo-bay) is native to Southeast Asia. It has a rich history in the Philippines and, in recent years, has surged in the United States for its rich, nutty, vanilla flavor.

UbeFest started as a small pop-up event in Long Beach in 2021. This year, with the help of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and several other sponsors, it will be expanded to a larger audience.

The free event will take place on April 26 at Don Knabe Park in Cerritos from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

"Come get your fill of ube-themed treats and enjoy this celebration of Filipino cuisine, local merchandise, arts and cultural heritage," Supervisor Hahn said in a statement last week.

In addition to a plethora of Ube treats, there will be live music, storytelling events and Filipino-inspired crafts, including crown making, according to event organizers.

Organizers are also setting up an Ube Egg Hunt from noon to 3 p.m. But spots are limited and anyone looking to participate should arrive early to register, according to event organizers.