17th Annual Malden Lunar New Year Celebration
As we joyfully welcome the Year of the Horse, we wish you and your loved ones a year filled with strength, vitality, and forward momentum. Even amid falling snow, our community came together to celebrate tradition, culture, and connection—making this year’s Lunar New Year celebration especially meaningful.
We are thrilled to share the successful conclusion of the 17th Annual Malden Lunar New Year Celebration, held at Malden High School this past weekend. Despite snowy winter weather, over 1,000 attendees from Malden and surrounding communities joined us throughout the afternoon, filling the venue with laughter, warmth, and festive energy.
We were honored by the presence of many local and regional leaders, including Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, Melrose Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis, Malden’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Sippel, along with city councilors and community representatives. Their support continues to affirm the Lunar New Year Celebration as a cornerstone of Malden’s multicultural community calendar.
A Lively Lunar New Year Fair
This year’s Lunar New Year Fair transformed the venue into a vibrant cultural hub. With participation from more than 20 community partners, families and children enjoyed a wide range of interactive experiences. CCC hosted multiple hands-on cultural booths featuring lantern riddle guessing, New Year printmaking, dough sculpture, Chinese sachet crafting, calligraphy, paper cutting, face painting, and traditional games like ring toss.
Festive Flavors, Warm Comforts
A variety of food vendors added delicious flair to the celebration, offering both traditional and modern Chinese flavors. Favorites such as curry fish balls, dumplings, jianbing, and candied hawthorn (tanghulu) were joined by comforting options like steamed meat buns and congee, along with milk tea and assorted Chinese pastries—perfect for a snowy winter afternoon.
East Meets Modern: Performances That Inspire
The stage program featured 18 dynamic performances, opening with a spirited lion dance that set a joyful tone for the celebration. Over the course of the afternoon, audiences enjoyed martial arts, Chinese classical dance, and Peking opera, alongside modern elements such as band performances, opera selections, and a fashion showcase—reflecting CCC’s commitment to honoring tradition while embracing creative evolution.
USPS Stamp Unveiling: A Cherished Tradition
A beloved highlight of the celebration was the USPS Lunar New Year Zodiac Stamp Unveiling Ceremony. Jim Murphy, Postmaster of Boston, Anthony Calitri, Manager of Customer Service Operations, Mei Hung, CCC’s Executive Director, and Malden Mayor Gary Christenson joined the audience to officially unveil the Year of the Horse commemorative stamp, adding a special and memorable moment to the afternoon.
With Gratitude, We Celebrate Together
Throughout the event, the venue buzzed with energy as attendees moved between performances, cultural booths, and food stations. This celebration would not have been possible without the dedication of our community—66 volunteers of all ages, along with our sponsors, performers, vendors, partners, and staff, whose collective efforts ensured a smooth and joyful event.
