FITCHBURG — Not held the past three years due to COVID, the Hmong New Year Festival is once again returning to Saima Park on Saturday and Sunday Labor Day weekend.
The festival kicks off on Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. for opening ceremonies and a ribbon-cutting with Mayor Stephen DiNatale to help officially start the celebrations. The weekend will include dancing, traditional music, sports, authentic cuisine, arts and crafts, evening entertainment and more.
Presented to the community by the United Hmong of Massachusetts, festival organizer Lisa Yang said they are very much looking forward to holding the activity-packed festival each year again.
“We celebrate this event every year but we held off the last 3 years due to COVID,” said Yang. “There will be vendors, sports, folklore dancing as well as people wearing cultural attire.”
The festival times are 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 2 and 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, both days at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road in Fitchburg. During the weekend there will be a men’s volleyball tournament, a women’s volleyball tournament as well as a cornhole tournament.
