Weekend's MN Hmong festival marks 40 years of migration

Dancers in traditional outfits
Dancers dressed in traditional Hmong outfits from Iny Asian Dancer Theater take part in the Hmong Freedom Celebration and sports festival on Friday, July 4, 2014 at Como Park in St. Paul.
Ackerman + Gruber | For MPR News

Thousands of people are expected to come to St. Paul from as far away as Laos and China to attend a Hmong festival this weekend.

The Hmong Freedom Celebration—known as J4—is an annual event at Como Park. It features a soccer tournament, as well as other sports, activities, traditional Hmong goods for sale, and food.

This year the festival holds a little more significance because it was 40 years ago this year that the first Hmong arrived in Minnesota.

Tzianeng Vang, CEO of the event, joined MPR News' Tom Weber to preview the event.

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