Residents of Saint Paul and the broader Minnesota community are gearing up for a vibrant celebration at Phalen Regional Park this weekend, where the opening of the Hmong Plaza will be marked with traditional ceremonies and an array of cultural performances, as announced by the City of Saint Paul. The Hmong Plaza is the latest addition to the Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden, a collaboration that reflects the long-standing ties between Saint Paul and its sister city Changsha in China. The fête, set for May 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., promises to offer attendees a palpable taste of Hmong culture, with a unique blend of international flavor.
The day's events, free for the public to experience, will commence with a Hmong Opening — Kwv Txhiaj, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the plaza, according to the event details posted on the City's official website. Dignitaries, including MN Senators Susan Pha and Foung Hawj, and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez, will take the stage to honor the occasion, not to mention the international presence with Hmong guests hailing from various corners of the globe such as Laos, China, Vietnam, Thailand, France, Australia, and Canada.
Attendees at the Hmong Plaza debut can immerse themselves in an eclectic mix of cultural exhibits, ranging from Hmong Pandau embroidery to Chinese paintings; the event will also feature musical expressions from the Hmong, Chinese, and Korean communities, bolstering the cultural mosaic of the day. It is not just a celebration but a bridge connecting Saint Paul's diverse populations through the power of shared heritage and art, inadvertently fostering a sense of community solidarity.
The establishment of the Hmong Plaza, featuring sizable Hmong art sculptures, is a testament to the 36-year sister-city bond between Saint Paul and Changsha and honors the ancestral roots of the Hmong people in this region of China, the plaza's inauguration is yet another step in the ongoing, multi-year effort to actualize the vision for the Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden, a landmark endeavor proving to be a cornerstone for intercultural education and understanding. Funding pursuits are still active for this phase, targeting three large-scale Hmong art sculptures needed to complete the aesthetic landscape of the plaza.
Recognized for its excellence, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation oversees a wide expanse of urban greenery and programs, distinguished by the Trust for Public Land™ ParkScore® as the second-best City Park System in the United States in 2023. Their operations encompass over 186 parks, trails, and a myriad of recreational facilities that have become the social infrastructure for the city's communities – indeed, they provide a canvas for celebrations like the Hmong Plaza opening, where unity and culture converge under the canopy of shared spaces and shared stories.
