Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, hosted its tenth annual Lunar New Year celebration, drawing hundreds of attendees on Sunday, January 15, 2026. The event featured a lively parade and a series of performances that highlighted both traditional and contemporary Chinese culture.
The festivities commenced with a colorful parade that circled the mall, led by a procession of dragon dancers and accompanied by traditional waist drummers. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as families and children participated in various crafts, showcasing their creativity while embracing the cultural significance of the holiday.
Performances included a fusion of song and dance, martial arts demonstrations, and instrumental music, all presented by members of the local Ann-Hua Chinese School. This year marked a milestone for the celebration, uniting Ann Arbor’s Chinese community to honor their shared heritage.
Zhu Li, the director of Ann-Hua’s Board of Directors, spoke about the community’s resilience, emphasizing how they navigated challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Even during the pandemic, we had a very small-scale celebration, but we didn’t miss that year,” Li stated. “Besides the mall celebration, we also collaborate with the Ann Arbor District Library, where we’ll be putting on a few performances and doing more arts and crafts this Saturday.”
Among the performers was Angela Xu, a freshman at Skyline High School, who played the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument with a history spanning over a thousand years. Xu expressed her passion for music, noting, “I love music, and I really want to be a musician. I think I will play it for the rest of my life.”
The celebration resonated with attendees, including University of Michigan alum Alycia Pietrzak, who appreciated the opportunity to engage with the festivities while away from home. “My coworker went back to China on Thursday to visit her family and to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” Pietrzak remarked. “I just think it’s super cool that people have the opportunity to celebrate here, too, because it’s expensive going back, and it’s not always practical for everyone.”
Li echoed Pietrzak’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange and support for international students during the holiday season. “A lot of international students here in our university come from cultures that celebrate this holiday, and it’s really difficult to be away from home when the holidays occur,” Li explained. “So we feel really proud and happy to be able to present our culture and then bring a little sense of home to them.”
As the celebration unfolded, it not only marked a significant cultural milestone for the local community but also reinforced the spirit of unity and connection among participants. The event served as a reminder of the importance of cultural expression and the joy of sharing traditions with others, making the Lunar New Year a truly memorable occasion for everyone involved.
