Sheboygan’s Hmong New Year will be hosted at North High School on Nov. 29.
Hmong in Sheboygan: Vue Yang tells Hmong immigration story
Sheboygan Hmong leader Vue Yang spoke about his arrival in Sheboygan and how his people were embraced by the city.
Gary C. Klein, Sheboygan Press
SHEBOYGAN – Hmong New Year will return to Sheboygan with dancing, food and community.
The celebration will include a doubles cornhole tournament, dance competition, cultural show and live entertainment.
Vendors will also be selling bubble tea, fruits and vegetables, sweets like Korean corn dogs, and merchandise.
Community resources booths will also be at Hmong New Year.
“I’m excited about meeting and seeing new faces, old faces, friends and families from far, near, and to see what we can bring” to the community this year, said Sheila Yang, president of the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association.
The 50th anniversary celebration marks the five decades since the beginning of the Hmong diaspora to the United States after the Vietnam War. Other celebrations are happening around the country and state in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau.
Wisconsin has the third-largest Hmong population in the U.S., following behind California and Minnesota. About 62,000 Hmong people live in the state, nearly 5,200 in Sheboygan County, according to census data.
Mayor Ryan Sorenson, Hmong New Year Chair Lue Yang and Sheila Yang will be among speakers during welcome remarks and a ribbon-cutting at the local celebration.
The dance competition will feature at least 15 groups, which Yang said is the highest number of participating groups at Hmong New Year. The first-place prize is $2,500, the second-place prize is $2,000 and the third-place prize is $1,500.
Live music will feature Martin Hang, Paj Ntshua Nplaim and Loblaig and the Tsis Yooj Yim Band.
Hmong New Year was reduced from a two-day event to one day this year. Yang said the school wanted the HMAA to be wrapped up with programming by early afternoon Sunday, but that didn’t seem feasible, especially for vendors. HMAA will use Sunday as a cleanup day, instead.
Limiting Hmong New Year to one day also changed some programming. There won’t be a Miss Hmong Sheboygan Pageant because Yang said HMAA would need two days to complete two rounds of the competition.
Yang said there will be another 50th anniversary next year, commemorating when the first Hmong people came to Sheboygan. The celebration could see some changes, like a new venue or weekend, not hosted after Thanksgiving.
She said there’s been a New Year celebration in the city for at least 40 years.
Sheboygan’s Hmong New Year hosted at North High School on Nov. 29
Hmong New Year will be hosted at North High School, 2629 N. 10th St., on Nov. 29. Doors will open at 7 a.m. for day events, which are scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Doors will open after a three-hour break to set up for night entertainment, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, but seniors and kids who are 12 years old and younger are admitted free. Table reservations are $100 and include entry for eight seats.
High heels aren’t allowed in the fieldhouse, and weapons, alcohol and smoking are prohibited on school property.
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or [email protected].
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