The Lunar New Year Celebration returned Saturday to the Hawthorn shopping mall in Vernon Hills, attracting a large audience.
The two-hour event launched in 2019, and this year included amenities such as face-painting, an Asian indoor market, singing by soloist Wen Gi from Gurnee, the traditional Lion Dance plus performance art by the Soaring Eagle Kung Fu group of Palatine in a lower-level courtyard.
“We are excited to host the center’s fifth-annual Lunar New Year event,” Tia Lindholm, marketing director for Hawthorn, said.
All were invited, “to come celebrate the Year of the Snake with a series of authentic cultural performances and activities highlighting the festive customs, rich diversity and significance of our Asian community,” she said.
People could place a red note on a wishing tree in hopes their wish will come true in 2025.
Paty Martinez of Lake Forest shopped the market with children Belinda, 6, Ariela, 7, and Celina, 2. Toy snakes were among the popular toys available.
“This is great,” Martinez said. “Ariela is actually taking Mandarin at school, so she really enjoys all of this.”
Martinez said she liked “the diversity; the different events. There’s always something happening in Lake County.”
Laila Chovatiya, 5, of Highland Park, posed with her new stuffed toy for photos taken by her mother Adelina Hung. Laila’s sibling Riyan, 2, was also in attendance.
Hung said attending the event helps to instill, “part of their culture because they are half-Indian, half-Chinese, and Chinese is the part from my side. I want to make sure they get exposed to all of the cultures and traditions that are part of their family.”
Adeline Sun, 23, of Barrington, a Soaring Eagle Kung Fu performer, took time after the group’s appearance to speak about their art.
Sun said performing, “shows part of Chinese culture and also spreading awareness about martial arts, showcasing all of the different forms.”
She said she has been practicing martial arts for about a decade.
“It’s important to understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds,” Sun said, suggesting everyone “just appreciate the differences. We’re all people.”
