If you can't afford that trip to Asia you've been planning, a trip tomorrow to the Richmond Convention Center might be the next best thing.

Members of 18 Asian communities from throughout the Richmond area will gather to celebrate and share their cultures at the 11th annual Asian American Celebration.

The all-day event is hosted by the Asian American Society of Central Virginia.

Last year it drew 12,000 people to soak up the atmosphere including dancing, demonstrations and a wide array of food.

This year's event will feature an "Iron Chef Competition" pitting competitors from nine nationalities against one another in an Asian cook-off.

There will also be demonstrations on Asian spices and herbal tea remedies from local chef and Singapore native Suki Campano.

"Richmond is getting very diversified and this is about celebrating that diversity," Campano said. "We want to share our cultures with Richmonders and also share with our friends and families."

Booths from each of the nationalities represented will offer dishes and drinks ranging from Bangladeshi limeade and Sri Lankan chicken curry to Vietnamese fried bananas.

The Philippines is this year's featured nation. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa will attend.

The theme this year is folklore. Cultural booths will offer educational displays from the represented nationalities with hands-on activities for kids. There will also be a children's parade and a "legends and folklore" presentation.

"The more people learn about different cultures, the less misunderstandings we'll have in the world," said Asian American Society of Central Virginia chairman Rumy Mohta. "If we can get one child to learn one new thing about a specific community, then my goal for the day has been satisfied."

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or whester@timesdispatch.com.