2012-2013 Hmong New Year

                The weekend after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Hmong New Year held annually at the St. Paul River Centre. Hundreds of the Hmong people attend, along with friends or curious visitors, dressed in traditional Hmong clothing.

Tickets cost $7.00 to get in, but the price changes each passing year. Food vendors line the walls as you get off the elevator, selling sausages, fried chicken, tri-color, pop, water and sticky rice. There are even a few Maui Wowi stands placed in some areas.

In the market place, you can buy an assortment of things such as jewelry, movies, used video games, teddy bears, medicine, clothing, hair accessories, etc.

Performances are a must. On the lower level, there isn’t any judging. The ones for competition are on the upper level, on the big stage. Performances include singing, dancing and even a pageant show.

Junior Dylan Vue, part of the group Biofreaks, competed for a place in modern dance. Unfortunately, they didn’t place.

If you don’t have anything to do during the weekend after Thanksgiving, it’d be nice to head down to River Centre and check out it out.