The community was welcomed to the Buffalo Grove Park District’s Lunar New Year celebration on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Community Arts Center (225 McHenry Road) in Buffalo Grove.
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More than 500 people attended the three-hour free event. People registered in advance due to limited availability.
“We are so excited to be celebrating our third annual Lunar New Year celebration,” said Ann Marie Shipstad-Schwartz, the park district’s recreation supervisor at the Community Arts Center.
”This event serves as a vital community builder for Buffalo Grove as it fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity by bringing together residents from diverse cultural backgrounds, which helps to strengthen community bonds and promote understanding among different ethnic groups.”
The park district has three events that fall under the Uniquely Us Celebrations: The Lunar New Year, The Pride Picnic and the Experience Diwali Celebration, Shipstad-Schwartz said.
“Through these events, the park district is able to demonstrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion, acknowledging that a vibrant community is one that embraces various cultural expressions,” Shipstad-Schwartz said.
“We love to highlight the beautiful diversity found within Buffalo Grove, and we are able to showcase our residents through these unique events,” Shipstad-Schwartz added.
The itinerary included performance art in two sets and Asian buffet cuisine (for purchase). Family activities and crafts were included.
The theater stage schedule began with the traditional Dragon Dance. The Adlai E. Stevenson High School Dragon Dance performing group was fronted by Ron Liu of Buffalo Grove and children Max and Emma Liu.
“This is a lot of fun,” Ron Liu said.
For the New Year and 2025, Liu hopes for, “peace.
“We hope everyone to be healthy and happy,” Max’s and Emma’s father added.
Parents Jia Jia and Yanyu Zhang of Buffalo Grove and their daughter Chelsea Jia, 2, watched Chelsea’s sister Claire Jia, 5, a preschooler, perform with the T’s Group Children’s Choir on stage.
“It’s very important,” to celebrate the Lunar New Year tradition, the girls’ mother Yanyu Zhang said. “In China, they have a long holiday.”
Jason Lim and Belvelyn Wong of Buffalo Grove, the parents of Li Wen Lim, 10, a fourth-grader, dined as a family, partaking of the available buffet.
“I like all the activities,” Li Wen said as a patron of the Lunar New Year occasion. “It’s really fun.”
A goal for 2025 includes, “I want to master maybe roller skating,” Li Wen said.
Dancing together as stage performers were Adlai E. Stevenson High School of Lincolnshire students and twins Heidi and Heather Bi, 18, of Buffalo Grove.
“It’s really fun,” Heather Bi of dancing with twin Heidi.
“It’s always like you have a best friend you can dance with, we go to practice together, we go to competition together.
“It’s just a very close friendship,” Heather Bi added. “It’s really fun.”
For more Buffalo Grove Park District opportunities, visit https://www.bgparks.org
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.Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.