2.6.2025 CCACC & Westfield Wheaton Jointly Illuminated Lunar New Year Celebration

The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) and Westfield Wheaton successfully hosted a Lunar New Year celebration on February 1, attracting numerous community members and bringing them a rich cultural experience and a festive atmosphere.

Lively dragon and lion dance performances

The celebration kicked off at 10:30 AM with an energetic performance by the 14-member CCACC Youth Dragon Dance Team, setting the tone for a lively and joyous Lunar New Year. Led by Westfield Wheaton Market Manager Michael Lado, the dazzling golden dragon dance paraded through the shopping mall before returning to the stage, filling the venue with a jubilant spirit.

The event's host, Charlie Tatum, first expressed his gratitude to the dragon dance team for their spectacular opening. Notably, Charlie initially volunteered for the Lunar New Year celebration in 2021 when he was still a high school student at Oakton High School in Virginia. His humorous and engaging bilingual (Chinese and English) hosting style added highlights to the celebration, creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere that was well-loved by the audience.

Following the dragon dance, Shaolin Hung Fu Kung Fu presented a traditional lion dance performance, delivering auspicious blessings to the crowd. A particularly exciting moment came when CCACC distributed red envelopes to VIPs, audience members, and children, who eagerly fed them to the lions, creating a scene of joy and excitement.

Diverse cultural and artistic performances

The celebration featured a diverse cultural and artistic performances. The music segment included traditional Chinese folk music, Western orchestral music, Peking opera, and solo singing. Dance performances ranged from Latin dance and K-pop street dance to modern dance. Other highlights included a calligraphy demonstration, children reciting ancient Chinese poetry, a YoYo performance, a heartwarming parent-child fashion show, and an elegant qipao showcase.

As the event drew to a close, the host invited children to the stage to dance with little dragon play, bringing the celebration to a perfect ending.

In addition to the exciting performances, various interactive activities were arranged on-site. Attendees particularly enjoyed Year of the Snake-themed crafts and paper cutting. Mr. Chih-Hsiang Li (CCACC Co-founder & Director of CCACC Sports) and Ms. ZhaoYong Wu (CCACC Evergreen Club Member) wrote participants' names translated into Chinese on Year of the Snake bookmarks at the calligraphy booth, allowing both Chinese and international guests to take home a meaningful keepsake.

Every successful event is made possible by the unwavering support of CCACC teams and dedicated volunteers. Additionally, Chiao-Chiao Liu, Director of CCACC Community Services, led her team in meticulously planning dozens of performances, overcoming various challenges to ensure the event's seamless execution.

Upcoming Lunar New Year Celebration

Our final Lunar New Year celebration will take place at Westfield Montgomery Mall on Saturday, February 8, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We warmly invite everyone to join us in celebrating the joy of the Lunar New Year!

(Article by CCACC Community Services)

Volunteers gathered for a group photo after the event.

Ned Li, CCACC Co-founder & Director of CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center, as well as the General Coordinator of Lunar New Year celebration (first from the left), and Michael Lado, Marketing Manager of Westfield Wheaton (third from the left), posed with the CCACC Youth Dragon Dance Team and the parents.

A continuous flow of attendees filled the event venue.

Diverse cultural and artistic performances captivated the audience.

Left: Chiao-Chiao Li, Director of CCACC Community Services, and Nien Shiang Liu, CCACC Senior Volunteer, coordinated behind the scenes. Right: Charlie Tatum, the celebration host, with Li-Fang C. Liu, Deputy Executive Director of CCACC.

Children and parents participated in "Little Dragon Play."

Left & Center: Volunteers from Chinese Bible Church of Maryland (CBCM)'s Craft Class assisted attendees in making Year of the Snake-themed crafts and paper cuttings. Right: Chih-Hsiang Li, CCACC Co-founder & Director of CCACC Sports, and Ms. Zhaoyong Wu, CCACC Evergreen Club Member, personalized Lunar New Year bookmarks by writing attendees' Chinese names.

Left: Children from the Little Dragon Club recited ancient Chinese poetry. Right: A heartwarming parent-child fashion show fostered joyful interactions.