MUKILTEO—The City of Mukilteo will be holding its, first-ever, Lunar New Year celebration this year, on February 12, at Rosehill Community Center. The event – which will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – is completely free, open to the public, and will feature delicious food, jaw-dropping performances, and the opportunity for cultural exchanges and learning, the city says.
“Every city’s celebration has its own character, and Mukilteo’s reflects who we are as a community. Mukilteo has one of the highest concentrations of Asian American residents in Snohomish County, and this event has received strong support not only from Asian community members, but also from residents across the city,” said Simon Bai, with Mukilteo’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission.
All elementary and middle school PTAs and PTOs within Mukilteo city limits were invited to participate — and each one were accepted, Bai added, which, he feels, “speaks volumes about community buy-in”. Organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Rotary, and others have also shown strong support.
“That level of collaboration really reflects how welcoming Mukilteo is and how much our residents value cultural diversity,” said Bai.
Guests can expect a variety of Asian cuisines, including Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and more. Much of the food will come from Mukilteo-based restaurants, to highlight the city’s local businesses. Food and refreshments will be free to the public, made possible through support from the City of Mukilteo and the Korean Community Service Center.
City leadership, including the Mukilteo City Council and Mayor Joe Marine, have been supporting bringing a Lunar New Year celebration to the city for some time. According to Bai, their continued support of the DEI Commission’s budget over the years has made it possible to host events like this. Looking ahead, the DEI Commission hopes to make this event more financially self-sustaining so it can continue to grow in future years.
Mukilteo’s Lunar New Year celebration will be hosted by Edmonds-based Korean Community Service Center, which has been serving the community for over 40 years, helping individuals and families facing a wide range of challenges, in addition to supporting initiatives that align with their mission of community well-being.
“When it became clear that the scale of this event was more than the DEI Commission could manage alone, Executive Director Joomi Kim generously offered KCSC’s support. That support includes financial assistance and promotion through their community network,” said Bai. Bai continued that the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration is just the beginning for the DEI Commission, and cultural events in Mukilteo in general. The Commission regularly discusses future cultural programming, especially during its annual planning meetings, he said encouraging members of the public to also offer their own suggestions for cultural events.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
