With traditional Chinese opera reverberating across the room and lions weaving energetically through the crowd, the Palo Alto community welcomed the Year of the Snake yesterday at Palo Alto’s Mitchell Park Community Center.
Hosting over 500 people of all ages, the event’s goal was to celebrate the different cultures across town, according to event coordinator Alicia Hulten.
“The Lunar New Year celebration has been a long-standing tradition here at Palo Alto City Library, and we are excited to ring in the new year once again with our community,” Hulten said. “We see this as an opportunity to uplift cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year, while also welcoming those who want to learn more about this holiday and those who celebrate it.”
“Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas blasted through the speakers as the TaeKwon Tigers martial arts group entered the room, kicking off the event with a Taekwondo demonstration. Each Little Tiger paired up with a Teen Tiger to show off their stance, punches and kicks. Their performance concluded with a Teen Tiger demonstration, as they ran, jumped and spun, showing off their technique.
According to sophomore and Teen Tiger Aina Arnquist, she enjoyed performing for the community as it shows a special part of Korean culture.
“Taekwondo is all about our passion,” Arnquist said. “It is a great opportunity to show our community the passion we have for our sport.”
Following the display of martial arts, Cornerstone School elementary students educated the audience with their performance of Chinese idioms. These young performers showcased their bilingual skills, acting out well-known idioms and sharing their cultural and historical meanings. The second graders sang “Xiao Mei Man” (Little Happiness) by Zhou Shen, and the fourth graders sang “Yi Lu Sheng Hua” (All the Way in Bloom) by Wen Yi Xin.
According to Cornerstone teacher Anna Jiang, the students’ performance highlights what they learned through their bilingual program.
“The students know both English and Chinese, so we chose some very famous Chinese idioms for the students to act out in both languages,” Jiang said.
Additionally, Jiang said the performance was the perfect opportunity for her students to show themselves and gain confidence.
“Performing here, in front of a large group of people, is bigger than school events, so they [the students] are making sure to remember the lyrics and to speak loudly,” Jiang said. “They did really well today. Most of our youngest students, second graders, really enjoyed themselves.”
After the Cornerstone School’s enriching performance, the celebration continued with Cathy Pan’s vibrant rendition of Cantonese opera. This art form, known for its blend of singing, dancing and storytelling, captivated the audience. Dressed in traditional elaborate, silk costume and bold makeup, Pan used expressive gestures and powerful vocals to convey stories of the Spring Festival.
As the excitement continued to build, Palo Alto High School’s K-pop Dance Club (PALYCE) invigorated the audience with their high-energy dance to “Touch” by KATSEYE. Their choreographed moves and vibrant energy brought a modern flair to the celebration, illustrating how the Lunar New Year event blends traditional and contemporary cultural expressions.
The event concluded on a high note with the Joyous Spring Lion Dance Troupe lion dance performance, a traditional Asian art form where performers mimic a lion’s movements in an elaborate costume. As the drums boomed and cymbals clashed, the lion dancers moved gracefully through the crowd, bringing good fortune and prosperity.
According to Hulten, the celebration connects the Palo Alto community by providing a space where people can learn, have fun and be creative.
“For the Palo Alto City Library, our mission is to ‘connect our diverse community through knowledge, resources, and opportunities,’” Hulten said. “Lunar New Year is just one of many events that bring the community together, embracing and celebrating our differences and diversity.”
As Lunar New Year continues until Feb. 12, all are welcome to attend the 2025 Palo Alto Lunar New Year Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the Mitchell Park Community Center.
