A Joyful Burst of Culture, Community, and New Year Spirit
FLUSHING, NY — On Sunday, February 15, the heart of Flushing lit up in a dazzling glow of red and gold as more than 1,000 community members came together for Glow Cultural Center’s (GCC) 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration. From the thunder of parade drums on Main Street to a bustling cultural fair and a lively variety show, the celebration filled the neighborhood with excitement, laughter, and the vibrant energy of a brand-new year.
More than a festival, this celebration reflected Glow Cultural Center’s core mission: to enrich community life through cultural, educational, and social programs that honor heritage, connect generations, and inspire pride.
A Parade Bursting with Spirit and Tradition
The festivities kicked off with a colorful Lunar New Year Parade along Main Street, stretching from Glow Cultural Center to Flushing Town Hall. Over 300 spirited marchers filled the streets with music, movement, and festive energy—instantly setting a joyful tone for the day.
Chinese Theatre Works (CTW) wowed the crowd with a stunning six-foot-tall Zhong Kui puppet towering above the parade route, while the Choy Lay Fut New York lion dance team electrified the atmosphere with explosive firecrackers and acrobatic choreography. The crackling fireworks and rhythmic drumbeats swept away bad luck and welcomed a year filled with brightness and hope.
Glow Cultural Center proudly marched alongside local schools, martial arts clubs, and hometown associations—showcasing the neighborhood’s unity and cultural pride.
A Stage Alive with Talent Across Generations
The afternoon Variety Show brought together more than 100 performers and four exciting performance segments that celebrated artistry, creativity, and community across generations.
A true highlight was the legendary acrobat Yang Xiaodi, whose extraordinary 70-year career continues to inspire. His brilliant displays of strength, precision, and grace brought the audience to their feet—proving that passion for the arts never fades with time.
From lion dance and traditional chorus to martial arts, diabolo, folk dance, and ballet, the show offered a dazzling blend of traditions and modern creativity. Together, these performances painted a vibrant picture of how cultural heritage continues to thrive through collaboration between masters and young rising artists.
A Cultural Fair Inspired by the Temple Fair Tradition
The Cultural Fair offered families an immersive journey into the heart of Lunar New Year traditions, inspired by the beloved temple fair (庙会).
Guests explored traditional arts including talisman writing (符纸) from Taoist practice symbolizing blessings and protection, the Zodiac Banner station introducing the Chinese zodiac cycle, and a calligraphy station where artists gifted handwritten “福” (Fu, meaning good fortune) characters commonly displayed during the New Year. The paper-cutting station also fascinated visitors, demonstrating how delicate “window flower” decorations (窗花) are created through simple folding and cutting techniques to decorate homes during the holiday.
Families enjoyed hands-on experiences such as lacquer fan crafting, Hanfu try-on, face painting, tangyuan (sweet rice dumpling) making—symbolizing family unity—and a children’s coloring station. Local vendors added to the festive atmosphere with beloved Lunar New Year treats including tanghulu, Taiwanese braised pork meals, sugar painting, dough figurine artistry, and traditional snacks and flowers.
Together, these activities created a vibrant “living classroom,” where community members of all ages could learn, create, and enjoy the traditions of the New Year.
Youth Leadership and Community Service
Behind every moment of magic were 45 dedicated volunteers, whose enthusiasm and teamwork powered the entire celebration. After six weeks of training, volunteers stepped into roles across guest services, activity stations, event logistics, and stage management.
On the big day, their smiles, energy, and kindness welcomed guests, supported performers, and ensured families had a smooth and happy experience. Many youth volunteers shared that the event gave them not only meaningful service experience but also leadership skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to their cultural roots.
A Celebration with Growing Regional Reach
Survey responses revealed the event’s wide-reaching impact. While 79.9% of participants identified as Asian, 20.1% were non-Asian—including White, Black, Hispanic or Latino, and multiracial attendees—showing the celebration’s growing appeal across cultural communities.
Most attendees came from Queens (72.2%), but many traveled from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and even beyond New York City—including Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The expanding regional reach highlights the Lunar New Year celebration’s role as a true cultural bridge, welcoming everyone to share in tradition, joy, and community spirit.
祝大家马年大吉，新春快乐，万事如意！
Wishing everyone a joyful Lunar New Year and a Year of the Horse filled with success, prosperity, and happiness.
Press Conference, February 5, 2026
Glow Cultural Center extends heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, partners, performers, and volunteers. Your support makes celebrations like this possible and sustains programs that preserve heritage, promote cultural understanding, and bring communities together.
Sponsors
Parade Partners:
Asian American Cohesion, Chinese Theatre Works 纽约美华剧坊, Fresh Meadow Line Dance Group 新鲜草原舞蹈队, HealthFirst 第一保健, Hunan Benevolent Association of America 旅美湖南同乡会, New York Blackbelt Club, New York City Residents Alliance, NYPD 109th Precinct (Community Affairs Bureau), PS 242Q, Hua Wu Dao Sporting Club 纽约华武道武术搏击馆, Choy Lay Fut New York lion dance 蔡李佛舞狮
Performance
Charming Dance Team 魅力无限舞蹈团, Chinese Chorus NYCC 纽约民歌艺术合唱团, Chinese Zhi-Qing Association U.S.A. 美国中华知青艺术团, Hua Wu Dao Sporting Club 纽约华武道搏击馆, Linda & Stanley Chinese Yo-Yo, Hanfu NYC 纽约汉服社, Xiaodi Yang, XH Arts Center 星海艺术中心, Zao Learning Education 早知道教育, Fresh Meadow Line Dance Group 新鲜草原舞蹈队
Cultural Support
Hanfu NYC 纽约汉服社, Taoist Association of America 美国道教协会
Photo Credit: Di Geng
Photo Gallery
- Press Conference: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glownyc/albums/72177720332144188/
- Event Day 1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glownyc/albums/72177720332144188/
- Event Day 2: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glownyc/albums/72177720332363342/with/55130932460
Highlight Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXlxBJDgbAM
News coverage
Subscribe to GCC Newsletter
Scan QR code to join our WeChat group
