The smoky scent of fresh-cooked food and blaring sound of Hmong music filled the air at Cal Expo Thursday through Sunday for the annual Hmong New Year celebration. Over the four-day period, more than 35,000 people swarmed the state fairgrounds to ring in the unofficial Hmong New Year, according to Sacramento Hmong New Year treasurer Mark Ching. In addition to the rows of music, food and clothing vendors, some activities of the celebration included a dance competition, Miss Hmong beauty pageant and the Hmong Idol singing competition. “This is part of my tradition, part of my culture, and also an identity of myself, so in a way it’s a part of me,” Hmong New Year enthusiast Ying Lo said.

It’s afterschool at Grant Union High School and the crowd goes wild! No it is not Grant’s Friday night football game and no the crowd is not at Grant’s football field either. Just before the thanksgiving break Grant’s auditorium is packed with not just any students of Grant but the Hmong students of Grant and their family, friends and other Hmong within the community.   In celebrations to Hmong New Year, Grant’s Hmong Club hosted their 4th annual Hmong New Year event which was opened to the community at Grant’s soccer field and in the auditorium Nov. 17. Grant Union High School is well-known for their football team, but what you may not realize is that Grant is a really diverse public

Thanksgiving Day usually means eating turkey. But for thousands of local Hmong, it means eating Hmong sausage, grilled pork and sticky rice while attending the Sacramento Hmong New Year celebration at Cal Expo. More than 40,000 people are expected to attend the four-day celebration which begins Thursday and ends Sunday, said John Thao, Hmong New Year Committee board member. The board formed six years ago and consists of one representative from each of the 18 Hmong clans which make up Sacramento's community of approximately 26,000 to 28,000 Hmong. Hmong come from the mountainous regions of China and other countries Southeast Asia. Nov. 14 and 15, Hmong already celebrated the new year at h