The Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association (NEWCA) will host its third annual all inclusive Chinese New Year Celebration Feb. 15.
The association was founded in the 1980s by a small group of Chinese immigrant families who sought to form a social club in the Fox Valley. It has progressively grown stronger, now with around 100 families part of NEWCA, with hopes to spread belonging and Chinese traditions and culture to the area. This year marks its third push for a more inclusive version of its annual Chinese New Year celebration. It aims to not only prop up the areas’ Asian population but open its doors to Fox Valley residents to experience genuine Chinese celebrations.
“A lot of the kids were born here, and they never experienced the cultural festival like us when we grew up in China,” said Fanni Xie, executive director of NEWCA. “This is a unique experience we can give them to leave the legacy of our culture to the next generation.”
The celebration will include multiple components. It will include a bazaar with shops selling goods from China and authentic foods, students from the area raising funds for a trip to China, cultural family fun activities and song and dance performances along with the coveted Lion Dance. Students in the area who are taking Mandarin courses will also be in attendance to showcase their skills in learning the language.
All offerings at the New Year Celebration are donated by local businesses or provided to NEWCA at a discount. Restaurants will cook “hidden menu items,” Xie said, with real Chinese cuisine not typically found in United States restaurants.
“The most important part is the food,” Xie said. “We ask them to cook items where it’s authentic so that people have an authentic experience in our event.”
The Chinese New Year Celebration will be held at Becket’s, 2 Jackson St., Oshkosh, from 2-6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $28.88 and free for children under five and seniors 70+.
