More than 100 College Park families visited a crimson-tinged City Hall on Feb. 21 to celebrate Lunar New Year.
The city’s second annual Lunar New Year festivities featured music, food and crafts from Asian cultures. Ryna Quiñones, communications and events manager, said the event celebrates the city’s diversity.
“We’re showcasing so many different traditions that happen during Lunar New Year,” Quiñones said, “especially for our Asian American and Pacific Islander community.”
Red and gold paper lanterns and fans covered railings, staircases and hallways. Along the windows were images of golden horses representing the Year of the Fire Horse, the theme of the festivities. Outside the council chambers was a fortune cookie dispenser shaped like a lion’s face and a table with picture books about Lunar New Year.
More than 100 people stopped by the celebration to hear music, watch dance performances and see a tai chi demonstration.
The Alice Gu-Zheng ensemble, a nonprofit music group, used the Chinese zither to perform a medley of Chinese pieces and “America the Beautiful.” The group Dancing in Silence gave a tai chi demonstration. The University of Maryland Terp Lion Dancers, some wearing a gold lion costume and others a red one, performed a dance.
The final show was a performance by the Somapa Thai Dance Company.
Children and their parents made paper fire horse decorations at the College Park Arts Exchange table.
Chipo Hatendi, a resident of Graduate Gardens in College Park, visited the station with her 4-year-old and infant daughters and said she came to the event to expose them to a different culture.
“It’s so they can learn new cultures and different people,” Hatendi said. “New Year’s happens at different times for other people, and it’s not just the New Year’s they are used to.”
In the community room, children attempted to create origami cranes after watching a demonstration.
Naoko Kamioka, an origami YouTuber and instructor, said the event was a way for her to introduce Japanese and Asian culture to the community.
“Origami is a very joyful activity,” Kamioka said. “All you need is just a sheet of paper.”
Li-Chun Cafe, located on the ground level of City Hall, offered guests free bubble tea, cookies and milk buns.
City Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1), who is half Chinese, said he is honored that the city celebrates Lunar New Year.
“The Asian Pacific Islander community is a rather large community, not just here in College Park, but globally,” Hew said. “And to see us embrace this is a real honor to be part of. I’m proud to be part of this.”