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Edison Township celebrates Lunar New Year with performances, ceremonial firecrackers and community messages
Summary
Edison Township’s annual Lunar New Year event featured community performances, a ceremonial firecracker display lit by an FBI representative, mounted horses from the New Jersey State Police and remarks from township officials; organizers also announced a March 28 Easter egg hunt at the new youth sports building.
Dan Reed, the recreation director for Edison Township, opened the township’s annual Lunar New Year celebration and welcomed residents to an afternoon of cultural performances and family activities. "Good morning everybody," Reed told attendees as he introduced the program and noted the event honors Chinese New Year and the year of the horse.
Michelle Lou, identified in the transcript as a representative of the FBI’s NOR field office, spoke about community collaboration with law enforcement and joined organizers in the opening ceremony. Per the program, Lou lit a ceremonial string of firecrackers after a community countdown; organizers also displayed four live horses provided by the New Jersey State Police as part of the celebration.
The mayor offered brief remarks praising the township’s cultural diversity and urging children to remember their heritage. Township Chief of Staff Bob Deal and newly elected council members Kelly Dimma and Robert Kentos were introduced early in the program and helped transition the audience to the performance lineup.
Performers included local groups and student ensembles. The program listed groups such as Woo Kung Fu, the Mandarin Academy students, the Edison Metro Lions Music Group and the Edison International Folk Dance Group. Hosts and performers explained cultural meanings for several dances — singling out themes of bravery, harvest, youth and peace — and presented music, solo vocals and ensemble pieces throughout the afternoon.
Ly Hoy of the Edison Metro Lions Music Group addressed the audience and turned the program over to the event host Helen, who guided the rest of the concert. A performer introduced as Winnie sang a peace-themed selection, and multiple youth and senior dance troupes completed the scheduled performances.
Organizers closed by thanking attendees, reminding people to be safe amid storm conditions, and announcing the township’s next family event: an Easter egg hunt scheduled for March 28 at the new youth sports building; the host said no registration is required for that event.
The program mixed ceremonial elements (the firecracker display), community outreach (the FBI representative’s remarks and the presence of New Jersey State Police horses) and a multi-act cultural concert aimed at celebrating Lunar New Year traditions within Edison Township.
