30K expected to celebrate Hmong New Year in Minn.

About 30,000 people are expected to attend this weekend's Hmong New Year celebration in St. Paul.

Amee Xiong, secretary of the Minnesota Hmong New Year committee, said the celebration includes dance, music, food, crafts and dress.

"It's really to celebrate the end of a year and welcome the new year. It's a time to meet friends and family members and have family reunions. It's also a time to wear your best outfits and have the ball tossing game as a courtship," Xiong said.

The event is also a time to celebrate the growth of the Hmong community in Minnesota and the recent election of two Hmong-American city council members in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Xiong said.

"Especially when the Hmong came here in 1975 to now with the Hmong community being a thriving community in Minnesota," Xiong said. "I feel really blessed to be in Minnesota."

In all, the the 2010 U.S. Census estimates there are 66,000 Hmong in Minnesota.

The New Year's celebration is in its 36th year. It's being held at St. Paul's River Centre through Sunday.

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