Read the full article by Justine Chahal at Hmong Daily News
On a gray November day in Sacramento, while most stayed indoors to avoid the cold, many flocked to Cal Expo with their families for the 50th annual Sacramento Hmong New Year Festival, a three-day event that began Friday, Nov. 28 and ended Sunday, Nov. 30.
Inside the venue, people strolled across the grounds, dressed in colorful clothing with bells that jingled as they moved. The ring of the bells was partially hidden beneath the sound of laughter, music and cheering.
Organized by nonprofit Sacramento Hmong New Year, Inc. (SHNY), the festival was established in 2003 and typically attracts an estimated 40,000 attendants each year, according to their website.