This past weekend on September 20th and 21st, a grand Asian food festival known as the “New World Mid-Autumn Food Fair” took place in the town of Monroe in Orange County, upstate New York, in the Hudson Valley region. During the fair, attendees got to enjoy delicious Asian cuisine while also being treated to high-quality Asian cultural performances and had the opportunity to explore a wide range of cultural products and information. The event received praise from local council members and a warm welcome from the public.
According to James H. White, the organizer in charge, this was the tenth annual Mid-Autumn Fair organized by New Century Company locally, with the event growing in scale each year.
“We see growth each year, and this year’s event featured over 150 product booths and more than 40 food stalls, expecting around 20,000 visitors,” White said. “There is a variety of Asian cuisine from countries such as China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, as well as food from other countries like Mexico. This is the largest Asian food and cultural festival in the Hudson Valley and is an amazing celebration of multicultural cuisine.”
Furthermore, the fair also invited talented students from prestigious art schools like Northern Art Academy and Sky Art Academy to perform on stage, showcasing a diverse array of programs including traditional dances, music, singing, and fashion shows.
“We strive to do something different each year,” White said. “For instance, this year we will have an ancient costume parade where people will be wearing authentic Chinese ancient attire walking through the fair, accompanied by a drum team performance, which promises to be spectacular.”
The fair was filled with various food stalls, handcrafts, and cultural product booths. Jackie Hallik, who traveled 45 minutes from a nearby community, was attending the Mid-Autumn Fair for the second time.
“I create handcrafted jewelry and decorations using pressed flowers, mushrooms, and butterflies,” she said. “The atmosphere here is delightful, business is good, and I love the food here, it’s very interesting.”
Television health program host JoJo introduced her health products on-site, featuring skincare products from Korea and high-quality health supplements produced in Korea and Taiwan.
The local non-profit religious organization, “Longquan Temple,” also set up a booth to promote the universal values of “Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance” advocated by Falun Dafa. Volunteer Wendy Dong mentioned providing children with free craft materials to enhance their dexterity. “We hope children will carry ‘Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance’ home. Meanwhile, preparing these toys is also a contribution to the community.”
Visitors to the fair enjoyed the atmosphere and products. Beverly, a fair attendee, said, “This event really touched me. It’s incredible, spiritually uplifting, everyone is great, and the food is fantastic. The music, dance, I just can’t describe how fabulous this festival is.”
Adam and his wife from Oyster Bay, Long Island, attended the fair for the first time. Adam immediately bought a shawl at one of the stalls upon arrival. “I love the dumplings here! We must enjoy the good weather before it gets cold!” His wife added, “We love the culture here, we love trying new things, tasting new foods feels amazing!”
Mr. Dan Obuck with his Asian wife picked up information at the Shen Yun Arts booth. They had watched a Shen Yun performance at Lincoln Center this year and planned to share the information with their relatives to encourage them to attend.
“This is our third time at this fair, our friends have also joined us, it’s like our annual date,” Dan said. “We’ve noticed the event’s growing scale and the changing decorations each year, making each edition more spectacular!”
The fair received accolades from various local elected officials including New York State Congressman Patrick Ryan, State Assemblyman Karl A. Brabenec, and many others.
Democratic Party candidate for the 13th District of Orange County, Michael Cox, also set up a booth to meet with attendees.
“This event is incredibly beautiful and impressive. It’s a wonderful cultural event that leaves a lasting impression,” Cox said. “I’m here to build bridges, expressing my willingness to serve the people.”
The “Global Quitting CCP Service Center” also shared information at the fair, with visitors lining up at their booth to sign in support. Additionally, there were Chinese calligraphy and art exhibitions at the fair, with a constant stream of visitors at the “Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance” art exhibition.