{"id":109928,"date":"2025-12-26T21:47:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T21:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/109928\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T21:47:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T21:47:24","slug":"hmong-new-year-event-in-fresno-celebrates-their-50-years-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/109928\/","title":{"rendered":"Hmong New Year Event in Fresno Celebrates Their 50 Years in America"},"content":{"rendered":"

The year 2025 marked the 50th anniversary<\/a> of the first arrivals of Hmong refugees in the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important that we obviously celebrate the success that we\u2019ve had here for 50 years. But the other thing is to remember all the hard work, the sacrifices. Our elders have really paved the way.\u201d \u2014 Blong Xiong<\/p>\n

While families and clans have been discussing their storied history all year, the celebration now culminates in the biggest New Year gathering of Southeast Asians in North America, said former Fresno City Councilmember Blong Xiong.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important that we obviously celebrate the success that we\u2019ve had here for 50 years,\u201d Xiong said. \u201cBut the other thing is to remember all the hard work, the sacrifices. Our elders have really paved the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Performers dance at the Hmong New Year Celebration Friday, Dec. 26, 2025 (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)
\nMinnesota State Sen. Susan Pha Visits Fresno for Festivities<\/p>\n

New Year festivities<\/a> at the Fresno Fairgrounds began Friday and continue through Monday. There, visitors of all ethnicities can celebrate Southeast Asian cultures, taste a variety of foods, and observe \u2014 or even take part \u2014 in traditional ceremonies.<\/p>\n

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.<\/p>\n

Organizers kicked off the event with a parade and a series of speeches from notable people in the community, including Fresno City Councilmember Brandon Vang, Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her, Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua, Assemblymembers Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno and Esmeralda Soria, D-Merced, and Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer (seated left), Fresno City Councilmember Brandon Vang (seated center), Vang\u2019s wife May Lee (seated right), and Minnesota State Sen. Susan Pha (standing second from right), Dr. Toulu Thao, organizer (standing center left), and at the Hmong New Year Celebration Friday, Dec. 26, 2025 (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)<\/p>\n

Minnesota State Sen. Susan Pha traveled out to Fresno for the event.<\/p>\n

Xiong say beyond the celebrations, the event unites the community that has since established itself throughout the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also for folks in different parts of the country to remember and to really talk,\u201d Xiong said. \u201cBut I think more importantly, when you have opportunities to go to some of these exhibits that are in the facilities here, to just kind of walk through some of the history. I hope that creates a dialogue and we connect them with their roots and with our culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Vendors cook at the Hmong New Year Celebration, Friday, Dec. 26 2025 (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)
\nNext Generation Needs to Keep the \u2018Grit\u2019 That Brought Success: Mouanoutoua<\/p>\n

Fleeing persecution during the Vietnam War \u2014 especially after many Hmong sided with the U.S. during the conflict \u2014 it was in 1975 that the first refugees arrived.<\/p>\n

Many of those refugees found a familiarity in the agriculture of the Central Valley, said Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua.<\/p>\n

The first arrivals did not have the luxuries they suddenly found around them, he said. And not long after, many left agriculture to become doctors, politicians, engineers, he said.<\/p>\n

Mouanoutoua said he wants the next generations to keep the \u201cgrit\u201d that pushed people to success.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens sometimes, you go \u2018that\u2019s enough,\u2019 because you can live comfortably that way,\u201d Mouanoutoua said. \u201cBut I hope that we teach our kids to still continue to excel in the professions so that way it\u2019s sort of a generational thing instead of just one generation taking advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n

It said it was in America that they achieved those successes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThough there are struggles, there are always struggles. But we excelled in 50 years past those struggles,\u201d Mouanoutoua said. \u201cOur hope is that we will just be one of the threads that weaves into this fabric of America that leaves a strand that is solid, a strand that is something America also values.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related Story: After 50 Years of Struggle, Valley\u2019s Hmong Community Charts a New Path<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Many veterans groups participated in opening ceremonies of the Hmong New Year celebration, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, at the Fresno Fairgrounds. (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)<\/p>\n

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\"\"Participants march through the Fresno Fairgrounds as part of the opening celebration of Hmong New Yea, Friday, Dec. 26 2025. (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)<\/p>\n

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\"\"Hmong New Year celebration drew out many prominent local figures, including Fresno City Councilmember Brandon Vang (far left in blue suit), Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer (beside Vang), and Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her (center in white) on Friday, Dec. 26 2025. (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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