SPRINGFIELD — Bright red lanterns, banners, food and floral displays greeted participants in the 2026 Chinese New Year celebration at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.
The fourth annual gala, celebrating the Year of the Horse, was hosted by the Chinese American Cultural and Heritage Society. It featured a Chinese cultural fair, traditional performances and Chinese cuisine provided by local restaurants.
State Rep. Angelo J. Puppolo Jr., who helped organize the event, attended along with other state and local elected officials, and community leaders of Asian American Pacific Islanders across the commonwealth.
Haian Lin, of Longmeadow, one of the organizers of the event, said the gala was “to promote and preserve the culture and the heritage of the Chinese Americans,” of which there is a large group in Western Massachusetts.
The event offered performances including dragon and lion dances, classical and contemporary Chinese music, martial arts demonstrations and youth dance ensembles. In addition, there were hands-on activities for families such as calligraphy and paper-cutting.
Organizers said the event is the most important and festive holiday of the year and is celebrated by Asian communities around the world.