CCACC 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration Successfully Kicked off on 2/15 (1)

The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) grandly held its 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Westfield Montgomery Mall, attracting enthusiastic participation from numerous community members who gathered to celebrate this joyful and tradition-filled holiday together.

At 10:40 a.m., the CCACC Youth Dragon Dance Team performed a dragon dance parade inside the mall. The team marched past major stores and the food court, delivering impromptu performances along the way. At 11:00 a.m., the team returned to the central stage.

Distinguished Guests Extended Lunar New Year Greetings

Emcees Hannah Chen and Dylan Chang took the stage and offered sincere Lunar New Year's greetings to the distinguished guests and audience. Following their introduction, Ms. Rita S. Lewi (Executive Director of CCACC) delivered remarks, warmly welcoming the guests in attendance and expressing gratitude to Westfield Montgomery Mall for its long-term partnership with CCACC in hosting Lunar New Year celebrations. E.D. Lewi also introduced the specially designed sweater created by the center for the Year of the Horse, featuring two galloping horses symbolizing mutual support within the community, and extended her best wishes for a happy Lunar New Year to all.

Mr. Jason Dyer (Senior General Manager of Westfield Montgomery Mall) also delivered remarks, expressing appreciation to CCACC and welcoming all attendees.

Dr. Yuchi Huang (Chairman of CCACC Board of Directors) and Ms. Chang Zhao (Vice Chair of CCACC Board of Directors) took the stage. Dr. Huang extended festive greetings to the guests and elaborated on CCACC's core values of "Compassion, Integrity, and Harmony." Board members in attendance that day also included: Ms. Jane Yang (Secretary of CCACC Board of Directors), Dr. Mo-Ping Chow (Member of CCACC Board of Directors), Mr. Vincent Ko (Member of CCACC Board of Directors), Dr. Ben Wu (Member of CCACC Board of Directors), and Mr. Roger Xu (Member of CCACC Board of Directors).

Mr. Ned Li (Co-founder of CCACC) and Mr. Chih-Hsiang Li (Co-founder of CCACC) were also present at the event.

Subsequently, Ms. Ashima Talwar (State Director of U.S. Senator Chrisopher Van Hollen Office) delivered remarks, thanking CCACC for its efforts in promoting multicultural integration. Ms. Susan Lee (Maryland Secretary of State) took the stage and presented a proclamation jointly signed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, and herself, recognizing CCACC's contributions to the community. Ms. Lee was joined on stage by Christina Poy (Administrative Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives), Dr. Yang Yu (Chair of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs), Ms. Roxanne Yamashita (Vice Chair of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs), Ms. Ping Lu (Commissioner of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs), Ms. Isabelle Balakit (Commissioner of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs), and Dr. Chung K. Pak (Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings), who collectively expressed their support and recognition for CCACC.

Dr. Clarence K. Lam (Maryland State Senator), Ms. Lily Qi (Maryland State Delegate), and Mr. Joseph Vogel (Maryland State Delegate) each delivered remarks. Dr. Lam and Ms. Qi personally presented signed proclamations, highly commending CCACC's more than 40 years of dedication and contributions to the community. Mr. Han Gao (Second Secretary of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, PRC) also delivered remarks, accompanied by Mr. Xiyuan Xu (Attache of Embassy of PRC).

Shaolin Hung Fun Kung Fu then presented a thrilling lion dance performance. CCACC specially prepared red envelopes for distribution to guests, audience members, and children. Many eagerly fed the red envelopes to the lion, beautifully showcasing the traditional customs of the Lunar New Year.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Marked the Official Opening

Following the lion dance performance, Mr. Marc Elrich (Montgomery County Executive), together with Ms. Natali Fani-Gonzalez (Montgomery County Council President), Mr. Andrew Friedson (Montgomery County Councilmember), Mr. Even Glass (Montgomery County Councilmember), Ms. Laurie-Anne Sayles (Montgomery County Councilmember), and Mr. Maxwell Uy (Montgomery County Sheriff), took the stage and presented a proclamation jointly signed by the County Executive and Council President. County Executive Elrich emphasized the significant contributions of the Asian community to Montgomery County's multicultural landscape and reaffirmed the county government's continued support for the development of the Asian community.

Next, Mr. Jud Ashman (Mayor of City of Gaithersburg), Ms. Lisa Henderson (Gaithersburg Councilmember), Mr. Yamil Hernandez (Gaithersburg Councilmember), Mr. Jim McNulty (Gaithersburg Councilmember), and Mr. Robert T. Wu (Gaithersburg Councilmember) took the stage. Mayor Jud Ashman presented a signed proclamation in recognition of CCACC.

Other distinguished guests in attendance included Ms. Julie Yang (President of Montgomery County Board of Education), Ms. Karla Silvestre (Member of Montgomery County Board of Education); Mr. Yi Shen (Asian Liaison from the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships); Ms. Tonia Bui (Chair of the Board of the Asian American Political Alliance, AAPA), Ms. Rose Hacking (Vice Chair of the Board, AAPA), Ms. Jacinta Ma Chuang (Secretary of the Board, AAPA), Mr. Jay Guan (Treasurer of the Board, AAPA), and Mr. Hoan Dang (Member of the Board, AAPA) , all of whom added great distinction to the event.

Finally, the distinguished guests gathered on stage for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. At the countdown led by Ms. Li-Fang C. Liu (Deputy Executive Director of CCACC), everyone cut the red ribbon simultaneously, officially marking the grand opening of the celebration.

Spectacular Cultural Performances

A total of 25 diverse and richly presented cultural performances were showcased on the opening day. The program began with an impressive martial arts performance by students from US Wushu Academy under the guidance of coaches GuiFeng Zhang and Christopher Pei. The performers demonstrated fundamental leg techniques, jumps, balance skills, falls and rolls, as well as combination routines. Their presentation also included sword routines and iron whip performances, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Following this, young dancers from Madison Chinese Dance, under the direction of Ms. Monica Chen, presented three graceful folk dances: "Travel to Tibet," "Beautiful Cloud in the Sky," and "The Beautiful Grassland." Ms. Qingxiang Bu performed the lively Northeast Yangge dance "Happy Going Home." Wheaton Senior Center Dance Team, under the guidance of Ms. Amy Cai, presented an elegant waltz performance. CCACC Fashion Dance and Beautiful Dancers, under the direction of Ms. Ye Wang, performed the folk dance "The Hometown Moon" and dance "Butterfly Lovers," respectively.

Continuous Highlights Throughout the Event

In addition to the cultural performances, the opening day also featured a variety of interactive activities, handcrafts and calligraphy booths. Audience members participated enthusiastically, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. More participating groups and additional programs will be introduced in detail in next week's article.

(Article by CCACC Administrative Office)

Distinguished guests took the stage for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the event.

Ms. Ashima Talwar (State Director of U.S. Senator Chrisopher Van Hollen Office) and Ms. Li-Fang C. Liu (Deputy Executive Director of CCACC).

Ms. Susan Lee, Maryland Secretary of State (right), Christina Poy, Administrative Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives (left), and Ms. Rita S. Lewi, Executive Director of CCACC, posed for a photo together.

From left to right: Mr. Joseph Vogel (Maryland State Delegate), Ms. Lily Qi (Maryland State Delegate), Dr. Clarence K. Lam (Maryland State Senator).

Front row: E.D. Lewi; Back row from left to right: Mr. Maxwell Uy (Montgomery County Sheriff), Mr. Even Glass (Montgomery County Councilmember), Ms. Natali Fani-Gonzalez (Montgomery County Council President), Mr. Marc Elrich (Montgomery County Executive), Mr. Andrew Friedson (Montgomery County Councilmember), Ms. Laurie-Anne Sayles (Montgomery County Councilmember).

Front row: E.D. Lewi; Back row from left to right: Ms. Lisa Henderson (Gaithersburg Councilmember), Mr. Robert T. Wu (Gaithersburg Councilmember), Mr. Jud Ashman (Mayor of City of Gaithersburg), Mr. Yamil Hernandez (Gaithersburg Councilmember), Mr. Jim McNulty (Gaithersburg Councilmember).