SPOKANE, Wash. – Saturday, February 24, 2024, marks Spokane’s annual Lunar New Year celebration at the convention center, hosted by Spokane’s United We Stand.
Dancers and singers representing over 20 different Asian countries will participate. We asked some of them how Spokane’s celebration compares to that of their homeland.
Of the five people we spoke to from different countries, no two celebrations were exactly the same.
For instance, in South Korea, it’s a 3-4 day celebration where many travel between sides of the family, sharing food and stories, and honoring their elders, while the older generation gives money to younger generations.
In the Philippines, everything is decorated in red. They hand out red envelopes and wish people good wealth. They set off fireworks and bang pots and pans to scare away any evil spirits.
In Southern China, they celebrate with a 3-day market where they sell flowers and decorations. On New Year’s Eve, they have a reunion with lots of different foods.
The differences are what the performers are excited about. They want to learn about each other and how they celebrate while sharing their own traditions. They want the Spokane community to experience their culture and spread happiness and wealth as is their tradition.
The celebration takes place from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center. It’s free to get in, and doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Red envelopes with money and gift cards will be handed out to the public.
