Chinese Renaissance Festival Brings Music, Culture and Community to Otisville

The 3rd Annual Chinese Renaissance Festival brought traditional Chinese music, dance, food, cultural displays, and community members together Saturday, Sept. 12, at Veterans Memorial Park in Otisville.

Organized by the Mount Hope Chinese Association with support from the local community, the free festival welcomed visitors from the surrounding area for an afternoon celebrating Chinese culture and traditions.

Traditional music brings culture to life

Among the performers were Angel Zhang and her classmate Philip Yu, who presented six musical pieces featuring the erhu, a traditional Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument.

“It is almost like a violin, but it’s like a Chinese version,” Zhang explained. “It doesn’t have that broad range of the notes, but it can perform just as well, even with just two strings.”

One of the pieces they performed was “Dodo,” which Zhang described as a piece about “our master” coming down to help and save people from “the not very good society today.”

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For Zhang, sharing traditional arts with the broader community is an important part of cultural exchange.

“I think it’s important because, you know, diversity, and we should all share what we love, what we cherish,” she said. “I think that’s just good as a community.”

Zhang said community events make cultural performances accessible to a wider audience because “anybody can come,” rather than requiring people to purchase tickets for a formal performance. She has been performing for about seven years.

Meixuan, an erhu teacher with Wen Shuyuan Cultural Arts Center, said the group selected traditional Chinese pieces that were “relatively peaceful and harmonious” to express their congratulations and good wishes for the festival.

The group normally performs with a variety of traditional Chinese instruments, including erhu and pipa, and also has a women’s ensemble. Due to scheduling conflicts, the group’s performance at the festival focused primarily on erhu.

“Art has no language,” Meixuan said. “We don’t need to express anything. Our music encompasses the connotations of Chinese culture.”

Visitors enjoy food, dance and new experiences

Visitors embraced the opportunity to experience something new.

Caitlin, who said she regularly attends cultural events in the area, came because she loves “the food, the people, everything.” Her favorite part of the festival was the handmade food and the performances.

“It’s a great introduction into other people’s lives and cultures,” she said. “It’s just beautifully done.”

For Esmeralda and George, who live in the Middletown area, it was their first time attending. Esmeralda especially enjoyed “the dance and the music,” including the dragon performance. George said events like the festival help “a lot of people to communicate together.”

Christina, who attended with her husband Mike and their two children from Monroe, said they discovered the festival through signs in the area. “I like trying different foods,” she said. “It brings people together. It’s a family event.”

A celebration of community and cultural connection

The festival also featured community and cultural organizations. Guixiu Li, representing Falun Dafa practitioners from Changchun, shared information about the practice and its connection to traditional Chinese culture. She said participating in community events provides an opportunity to introduce Chinese traditions and values to people from different backgrounds.

Throughout the afternoon, the festival offered visitors an opportunity not only to experience Chinese culture, but also to meet neighbors, enjoy performances and food, and learn from one another.