The 2026 Chinese New Year celebration, organized by the Middletown Chinese Association—also known as the Mount Hope Chinese Association—in partnership with the Middletown High School Diversity Club, brought the community together in a vibrant celebration of culture, food, and tradition. Dubbed the biggest Chinese New Year event in the Hudson Valley, this year’s festivities were held in the Middletown High School auditorium, with additional activities spilling into the hallways and cafeteria. The celebration took place at 30 Gardner Ave. Extension in Middletown on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a snow date scheduled for March 7 during the same hours.
A day promoting culture and community
U.S. Representative Patrick Ryan, who serves New York’s 18th Congressional District, greeted attendees with humor before sharing a heartfelt message.
“Good afternoon or good evening—I promise I’m not going to dance. No one wants to see that from me, but if you did capture it on video, it might go viral for all the wrong reasons,” he joked.
“In all seriousness, I just wanted to say Happy New Year. It is a time of a lot of change and a lot of challenge in the world and in our country, but I feel very, very optimistic just coming from all the great food and the great fellowship,” Ryan said.
He added that he was proud to represent the community, including Middletown High School for graciously hosting the event and the Falun Gong community, and praised the “incredible display of true traditional Chinese culture that represents something I think we all can learn from and aspire to.”
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Ryan concluded by reaffirming his commitment to local residents: “Thank you for the invitation and for our close partnership. Please know if there’s anything my team and I can do—big or small—I am your representative. Give us homework and put us to work. Happy New Year.”
“It really makes me, my heart filled with gratitude,” said Mela Wu, president of the association, while reflecting on the opportunity to host the event. “Being that I wasn’t born here, that also drives me to have stronger will to work more for the other communities because, you know, we are volunteer-based and we are very dedicated in bringing out the best of the Chinese culture to share with everybody.”
Community leaders praised the event’s role in fostering unity.
Assemblyman Karl Brabenec said, “Everybody has a wonderful time sampling food and enjoying the festivities. It just brings everyone together with happiness and positivity.” Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta noted, “We celebrate the diversity in Orange County…Events like this show our community’s positivity, strength, and unity.” On visitors’ takeaway, Brabenec said, “Healthy, happy New Year. There’s great energy here, and we’re glad to be part of it.”
Janet Sutherland, Middletown County Legislator, added, “It brings everyone together…with generosity, with love, with warmth, and brings our communities together to recognize and celebrate differences.”
Assembly member Paula Elaine Kay highlighted the event’s educational value: “Really a better understanding of Chinese culture, of the impact on not just the city of Middletown, but Orange County as a whole…dance, music, food, and just a general kindness.”
Representatives from local organizations and businesses highlighted the significance of participating in the event. A spokesperson from Gan Jing World, a family-friendly online platform, explained, “We think, like people, they need communication. They need to be online together. Have an online community also as well. But we need a clean space.” They emphasized the importance of healthy online content, noting, “We want everybody here [to] be healthy and enjoy their life.”
Tim Sun, principal from Northern Academy of the Arts, shared the school’s involvement: “We are very big in culture…We like to be here, and we have a lot of students perform today… I hope people bring home the joy of the Lunar New Year and the joy of people collaborating, working, and celebrating together.” Northern Academy, a school recognized in the top 2.5 percent nationally by niche, showcased its programs in dance, music, fine arts, science, and business, allowing visitors to see the breadth of its offerings.
Wang Qiunn, manager of Fashion Wok restaurant, explained the significance of sharing authentic Chinese cuisine: “We try to make sure not put the chemical things in. Make everybody healthy… We hope everybody understand real Chinese culture, 5,000 years.”
Middletown High School Executive Principal William Donohue emphasized the importance of hosting the event: “This is just more in line with our mission, being able to celebrate Chinese culture in the new year as part of our rich cultural fabric in Middletown…It’s our hope that we are chosen as a venue again and this becomes an annual tradition.” Students from the school’s diversity club played a volunteer role, helping set up and manage the event.
Maria Bruni, Director of Economic & Community Development for Middletown, noted, “It’s important to support events like this…It’s a celebration of [a] new Chinese Year, but it’s also showing the strength of our community, our diversity, and we support the unity of the town.”
A day packed with performances, crafts, and culinary delights
The family-friendly event offered musical and dance performances, interactive craft activities, and refreshments for all ages. “One day is not even enough,” said Wu. Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of acts, including an exercise demonstration, Thousands Horses Galloping with drums, Mozart string quartet, Happy Herdsmen dance, Fucik: Florentiner March, a brass chamber, Taiko drums, Schubert violin solo, and girls’ fan dances Snowflakes Welcoming Spring and Playful Young Ladies.
The children’s choir performed Happy New Year and God Bless America, while Beauty Through the Dynasties showcased traditional Chinese fashion.
Visitors could also explore local Chinese kitchens and chefs, alongside a few American food vendors. Guests were encouraged to dress in ancient Chinese costumes to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere.
A personal connection
For Mela Wu, the event was deeply personal. “I can’t go back to China, so this is my way of showing appreciation to my roots, my culture, my country, and my family,” she said. “We share Chinese culture to dispel misunderstandings…bringing more peace and harmony to the community.” She called the celebration “happy, filled with happiness…good food, great shows, and laying the foundation for a bright New Year,” and praised Middletown High School staff for their dedication, noting, “They work very hard, taking this as their own event.”
Schadrac St. Louis, school counselor and Diversity Club advisor, said the event “is important for our students to explore and appreciate Chinese culture. They helped set up and learn from this experience.” He added, “Principal Donohue opened his heart to make this happen, and next year it will be even bigger.”
Food vendors like Pangjing from a Sichuan restaurant brought a taste of home to the celebration. “We want to share, like, how we eat at home, like we cook at home with everybody here,” Pangjing said, highlighting the personal connection and authenticity behind the dishes.
As the celebration drew crowds from Middletown and beyond, it showcased the power of culture to bring a community together. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of Chinese traditions, joyous performances, and delicious flavors, while organizers celebrated the event’s success and looked forward to next year.
