San Jose City Councilor Peter Ortiz and the Sino-American Heritage Foundation hosted a Lunar New Year celebration at the Chinese Cultural Garden in Overfelt Park in San Jose on March 8th. The event attracted a diverse crowd to come together and celebrate the festive occasion.
The event took place in front of the landmark “Friendship Gate” in the Chinese Cultural Garden, and kicked off with a lively lion dance performance by FASCA, creating a festive atmosphere filled with cheer.
Ortiz expressed his joy in celebrating the Lunar New Year with the community at the Chinese Cultural Garden. He emphasized the significance of the Lunar New Year as one of the most important festivals in many Asian cultures and mentioned that San Jose has officially recognized it as a holiday. Through such celebratory events, different ethnic communities are able to come together to share food, music, and cultural performances, showcasing the spirit of unity, respect, and inclusiveness.
He also thanked the performance groups, families, and participating organizations for their efforts and announced that this event, now in its second year, will continue annually during his term. Ortiz shared that his office, in collaboration with Congressman Ro Khanna and the Sino-American Heritage Foundation, successfully secured $1 million to enhance the facilities at the Chinese Cultural Garden in East San Jose, including the restoration of the three ponds in the garden for the community to continue enjoying the park space. During the event, he also presented commendation letters to several participating groups as a token of appreciation.
President Lin Da-Ji of the Sino-American Heritage Foundation expressed gratitude to all those who participated, especially highlighting School Board Member Melissa Lopez and Councilor Ortiz as co-organizers. The theme of this year’s celebration was the “Year of the Horse,” symbolizing vigor, energy, and loyalty, wishing everyone good health and prosperity in the new year.
Lin Da-Ji also mentioned that with congressional funding support, future improvements in the garden area will include refurbishing the three ponds and the statue of Confucius. The association plans to repaint the “Friendship Gate” in the garden and continue promoting the revitalization of the garden through fundraising and community collaboration, giving this historical and cultural landmark a fresh look in the future.
The celebration featured a variety of performances combining festive atmosphere and cultural education significance, such as lion dances, diabolo spinning, Tai Chi, and traditional folk dances, showcasing the vibrancy and charm of Chinese culture. The event also highlighted the cultural characteristics of diverse ethnicities. In addition to Chinese cultural programs, Vietnamese dances and Khmer (Cambodian) traditional dances took turns on stage, providing the audience with a rich cultural feast and demonstrating the spirit of exchange and integration in the Bay Area’s diverse community.
Parent participant Shrey shared that her daughter Riley performed the Cambodian “Chicken Dance” at the event, which she had been practicing for months. The children rehearsed together every Sunday and practiced at home daily through YouTube. She revealed that her daughter has already learned two dances and will perform another one at the City Hall in April.
Shrey also mentioned that she is a Cambodian refugee who has been living in the United States for nearly 40 years. The family drove for about an hour from home to attend the event, hoping to support their child’s learning and passing down traditional culture, as well as to introduce more people to the cultural characteristics of different ethnic groups.