Brooklyn Park To Host 3rd Annual Hmong New Year Celebration
The local Hmong community is getting ready to celebrate their biggest night of the year.
The cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center are partnering with the Osseo School District, Hmong American Partnership and Minnesota Zeg Zog to host the 2023 Hmong New Year celebration.
Since the late 1970s, Hmong people have gathered for the New Year to meet, eat, celebrate the harvest… even find love.
“Families would be so busy farming and nobody would have time to actually go and find their partner, and so this would be the perfect time to find their soulmate,” explained Pang Yang, Executive Director of Minnesota Zeg Zog.
Hmong Dancers Celebrating the New Year
This year’s event will feature a special contribution from students of the Park-Center High School’s Hmong Language Program who’ll be responsible for the evening’s entertainment.
“They’re emceeing at the event in both Hmong and English, and we also have performers from the school itself along with other performances from the community,” Yang added.
In addition to cultural performances, the celebration will include a variety of vendors and a dinner featuring authentic Southeast Asian cuisine.
“We know that food is what brings people together, so it’s awesome to see people who are not Hmong come out and try Hmong food,” said Yang.
The event also serves an educational purpose, particularly for the Gen Z Hmong.
“By asking curious questions, by being surrounded by elders, by being surrounded by educators, we’re able to continue that education not just for our young people but also education across other ethnic groups as well,” Yang said.
Hundreds Expected at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center
The Hmong New Year celebration will take place on December 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center.
Tickets for the event cost $5.
People can purchase tickets online or in person at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center, or visit the event Facebook page.
