The vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors of Lunar New Year are returning to town as the annual Lunar New Year Festival kicks off on Saturday, February 8, at Concord Carlisle High School. Now in its second year, this beloved free community event promises a day of cultural celebration, family-friendly activities, and unforgettable performances.

Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is one of the most important holidays in many Asian cultures, marking the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar. This year, we welcome the Year of the Snake, symbolizing wisdom, health, and good fortune.

Although the festival will take place this Saturday, preparations have started long before that. CCHS Chinese teacher Ms. Han, one of the festival’s lead organizers, explains, “The plan began right after last year’s celebration in February 2024, inspired by my Chinese class and Far East Association club students. They put together thoughtful reports covering everything from food and arts & crafts to performances, volunteering, and fundraising.” She adds, “Their brilliant ideas and enthusiasm motivated me to organize the 2nd Lunar New Year celebration at CCHS in 2025!”

A Community Effort

While last year’s inaugural Lunar New Year celebration was a huge success, this year’s will be even bigger and better! “The biggest change is that it’s more student-led than teacher-led,” Ms. Han says. “We have an incredible committee—Veronica Moy, Isaac Lin, Amy Weingarten, and Dia Wang—who have worked tirelessly on planning, outreach, preparation, and coordinating volunteers across various activities.”

Veronica Moy, a student committee member, shares her excitement: “I’m so grateful to be part of this event! As a student who has grown up in Concord, I honestly never imagined we would have an event like this. I’m so glad we get to create this event for everyone to share and especially for a lot of young kids who see themselves represented and are partaking, or get to learn about and experience different cultures.” 

Dia Wang, another student committee member, reflects on the collaborative effort behind the festival: “I’ve enjoyed seeing the community come together, and witnessing various aspects of Asian culture––not only including Chinese––that celebrate Lunar New Year that I would’ve previously never experienced or heard of.”

This year’s festival also features expanded collaboration with other CCHS clubs, including Tai Ji, Chamber Music, and Dance. “This event has grown beyond the Chinese class and Far East Association, involving even more CCHS students,” Ms. Han notes.

One of the most exciting additions is a performance by Concord elementary students, inspired by enthusiastic CCHS Chinese class students, eager to share the tradition with younger learners. “We’ve been hosting Wednesday training sessions after school, and we couldn’t be prouder of these kids,” Ms. Han says. “Many had no prior Chinese experience, yet they’ll be singing and dancing with confidence at the festival.”

“It’s amazing to watch students shine in so many ways, whether as performers, artists, or leaders,” Ms. Han reflects, “I’m especially happy to create more opportunities for CCHS students to serve the community and celebrate our diverse cultures together!”

Exciting Performances and Activities

The festival will feature a wide array of activities and performances, including:

• Tai Ji
• Lion Dance
• K-Pop Dance
• Mahjong
• Ping Pong
• Chinese Calligraphy
• Shadow Puppets
• Wood Burning
• Food (of course!)
• And much more––come see for yourself!

Veronica is particularly excited about the performances, expressing, “I personally have been involved more with the performances, and honestly, they are all so amazing, and everyone has worked incredibly hard. I look forward to seeing the Yuanqi Ladies group historical fashion show, as well as the Dragon Ribbon Dance and Wushu!  I’m also so excited for the delicious food!”

Dia highlights the diverse range of activities: “There will be a bit of something for everyone in a sense. If people love watching performances, there will be fashion shows of historical Asian clothing, lion dancing, songs, and even K-pop dancing to list a few. If someone is interested in making things, we have calligraphy where we can make paper fans, headband making where you can make fancy royal headbands for you or your friends, wood burning where you can make art, origami, and dumpling play-doh making for kids of all ages. For those looking for games or activities, ping pong and mahjong is an option. And if you’re there for the free food, there will be dumplings, spring rolls, dumpling making, bubble tea, dim sum and scallion pancakes and so much more.”

A Time for Family and Community

For Ms. Han, Lunar New Year holds deep personal meaning. “Lunar New Year is a time of blessings, joys, and togetherness––a chance to celebrate with loved ones and enjoy delicious food,” she remarks, “It marks a fresh start, letting go of past misfortunes and welcoming new beginnings from New Year’s Eve through the 15-day celebration. After moving to the U.S., far from most of my family, it has become a time to gather with those around me, share best wishes, and introduce this meaningful tradition to others here.” 

Veronica echoes this sentiment: “To me, Lunar New Year is a time to be with family and eat a lot of food, to be totally honest. The feeling of sharing tables and celebrating together is warming and reminds me of my family’s support, care, and love, not only for me but for my siblings, cousins, and each other. Of course, I’m excited to share this and the feeling of family to the community that the new year brings.” 

Join the Celebration

The Lunar New Year Festival is free and open to all. Whether you are familiar with Lunar New Year traditions or experiencing them for the first time, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, February 7, 2025
• Time: 2-4 PM
• Location: Concord Carlisle High School Cafeteria
• Admission: Free

Come out and celebrate the Year of the Snake with your neighbors, friends, and family. Let’s ring in the new year with joy, unity, and a shared appreciation for the diverse cultures that make our town so special.