HMONG PEOPLE FROM around the Stockton area gathered with their families at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds recently to celebrate the New Year and Hmong culture with food, dance competitions, volleyball and more.
Ava Vang, 11, cheers for the dancers on stage during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Visitors shop for traditional Hmong clothes at one of the pop-up stores during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Maineng Her tries on a scarf at a pop-up store during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Maineng Her tries on a scarf as a belt at a pop-up store during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Athena Yang, 2, is all smiles while attending the Hmong New Year celebrations in traditional Hmong attire at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Niko Munguia, 2, (left) and Jaxon Atondo, 3, play with toy guns during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Performers wait for their turn on stage while cheering for another dance group during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Mai Xiong takes photos with her daughters Maliah Her (left), 9, and Chloe Her, 7, under the decorated arch celebrating Hmong New Year at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Attendees take part in a volleyball match during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Traditional Hmong attire waits on the rack for buyers during Hmong New Year celebrations at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton on Nov. 11, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
Hmong people are an indigenous group from East and Southeast Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. The Nov. 11-12 event at the fairgrounds attracted a colorful array of traditional clothing from the visitors’ countries of origin.
While the New Year is traditionally celebrated over three or four days at the end of December, the holiday is observed between November and December among the Hmong people living in the United States.
The next major Hmong New Year celebration can be found in Sacramento at Cal Expo from Nov. 24-26 and is among the largest of the celebrations in the United States.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
