Stockton Hmong New Year Runs Nov 14-15: $7 Admission With Cultural Performances and Volleyball Tournaments
The city of Stockton, in San Joaquin County, California, will hold its annual Hmong New Year celebration on November 14-15 (Saturday-Sunday). The event takes place at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, organized by Lao Family Community Empowerment, Inc. (LFCE).
The celebration features cultural performances, music, merchant and food vendors, and information booths. Sports are a centerpiece: the men's and women's volleyball tournaments each offer a $700 first prize, with all games starting at 9 a.m. on November 14. Teams must submit their registration to the organizer by November 7; the entry fee is $50 per team.
General admission is $7 per person. Children age 5 and under enter free, as do seniors age 66 and over with ID. Parking is $10 per vehicle.
Hmong New Year (Noj Peb Caug) is the most important festival of the year for the Hmong community, traditionally held after the harvest as a time for family reunion, thanksgiving to ancestors, and welcoming the new year. LFCE has served Southeast Asian and refugee families in San Joaquin County for more than 40 years and organizes the Stockton Hmong New Year each year to bring families together and showcase and preserve Hmong cultural traditions.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 苗族新年传统抛球（pov pob）活动（资料图）。NruasPaoYPP 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / A traditional pov pob ball-tossing game during Hmong New Year festivities (file photo). By NruasPaoYPP, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
