Chinese Cultural Festival Debuts on March 9 at Newton Cultural Center

Newton, Mass. — Newton’s first citywide Chinese Cultural Festival will be held at the Newton Cultural Center at 225 Nevada Street on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, with interesting and exciting activities for everyone.  The richness of Chinese traditions and philosophies will be showcased through a kaleidoscope of exhibits, live performances, costumes, panel discussions and cultural presentations that all are invited to come to enjoy.


From 9:30 AM to noon, children will delight in  a great selection of  games and craft activities including Paper Lantern making, Chopstick Challenge, Paper Folding Arts, Chinese character jigsaw puzzles, JianZi (Chinese Shuttlecock),  Multimedia Classic Chinese Readings, XiangQi (Chinese chess) and many more surprises.

Adults and teenagers can participate in two morning panel discussions that will explore compelling themes in contemporary Chinese American life.

Topics to be discussed and demonstrated at the first panel, moderated by attorney Lei Zhao Reilley will include: "Nature's Way of Healing: Demystifying the Chinese Herbal Medicine" by Dr. Weidong Lu, "Acupuncture: Moving Qi with Needles" by Ms. Abby Kessler, "the Ancient Wisdom of Feng Shui: Balance the Energy Around You and Bring Fortune to Everyday Life" by Mr. Lidong Yu, "Tai Chi: More Than Exercise -- It Is An Attitude, and A Tango With the Universe" by Mr. Tai-Chun Pan, as well as "Healing Ancient Music of Guqin: Cultivate the Harmony in Mind, Body, and Spirit". The panel discussion begins at 9:30 AM.

Being American, the Chinese Way at 11:10 AM, moderated by psychiatrist Dr. Alan Moy Sooho, brings panelists Dr. William Wei, Dr. Anping Shen, Ald. Greer Tan Swiston, and licensed social worker Katie Jae Naftzger together to discuss recognizing and appreciating Chinese values in America, raising a confident and happy child, growing up as an “ABC” (America Born Chinese), and issues within the adoption community. Pre-registration online at www.newtoncommunitypride.org is requested for each panel as seating is limited. Stage performance will begin at 1 PM with dances, choruses, music, martial arts, and many other forms of lively entertainment. In making her selection of the afternoon performing groups, Lina Fu aims to demonstrate the great diversity of musical and dance styles and traditions in what is usually uniformly known as “Chinese”. Performing will be Angel Performance Arts, Jade Lin’s American Chinese Art Society, Anlin Wang, Gold Medalist of World Traditional Wushu (Chinese Wen-sheng Boxing) Competition and the Boston Eastern Heritage Choir. Also appearing are the Newton Chinese Language School, the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association, the Boston Dong Fang Dance Troupe, the Cambridge Center for Chinese Culture, Kevin Chen Martial Arts, the Harvard CSSA Mulan Arts Troupe, the Cambridge Center for Chinese Culture, the Boston Dong Fang Dance Troupe, the XYY Happiness Band, and the Boston Drum Dancing Group.

"Cultural diversity and curiosity is one of the defining characteristics of Newton and what makes the city such a wonderful place to live", Lei Reilley says. An attorney and Newton resident, Lei explains her involvement in organizing the festival: "Inspired by the other cultural festivals at Newton Cultural Center last year, we are delighted and proud to introduce the multiple aspects of Chinese culture in such an integrated forum to all local communities." Also a member of the organizing committee, Dr. William Wei praises this event as “an opportunity to share the colorful, tasteful, and useful values and richness of Chinese culture with people in our community, to celebrate and express our gratitude for the culture diversity of this great society."

The organizing committee members are Lina Fu, attorney Lei Reilley, Dr. Anping Shen, Dr. Alan Moy Sooho, Alderman Greer Swiston, and Dr. William Wei.  Having received a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, an agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, this event is sponsored by the Newton Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs and Newton Community Pride, with generous support from Cambridge Savings Bank as its Platinum Sponsor, First Commons Bank and WholeFoods Market as its Gold Sponsors, and the Newton Chinese Language School as the Silver Sponsor. Admission is FREE but please bring a donation for the Newton Food Pantries. A complete program is available at www.newtoncommunitypride.org.