Celebration set to honor 50 years of Hmong community in Merced

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Today’s Hmong community is vibrant and flourishing in Merced County, but that journey didn’t happen overnight.

The first waves of Hmong refugees arrived in Merced County in 1975, fleeing war, political persecution, and the uncertain aftermath of the CIA’s Secret War in Laos.

Fifty years later, the Hmong community’s dynamic history and legacy is being honored in Merced County.

“Hmong American Day: Celebrating 50 Years of Hmong Resilience & Heritage,” is scheduled to be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at the Castle Memorial Parade Ground, located at the Castle Commerce Center in Atwater.

The landmark event will commemorate five decades of Hmong presence in Merced County.

There is no cost to attend the event, which is scheduled to include air shows, traditional games, cultural performances and food vendors to showcase the Hmong community.

“This 50-year anniversary is a powerful reflection of resilience, growth, and community,” said Tsia Xiong, project director of HLUB Hmong Center.

“For many in the Hmong community, it represents both a commemoration of the refugee journey from Thailand and Laos and the roots established here in Merced.”

The event is set to include traditional and modern performances such as Hmong dance, spoken word, music, alongside interactive cultural stations, embroidery demonstrations, mochi sampling, and booths from local organizations.

Xiong said the event was designed to be immersive for all cultures and ages, especially youth, with activities like Tuj Lub, a spin-top game, volleyball, and hands-on crafts.

“Whether you are of Hmong descent and want to learn more about your roots, or are of another descent and interested in learning more about Hmong culture, it will be a fun time for the whole family,” he said.

The idea for the celebration started as a shared vision among elders, educators, local nonprofits, and longtime community leaders, many of whom came together to plan, fundraise, and coordinate every detail over the last few months. More than 500 people are expected to attend.

While no single organization or individual is being formally honored, the event will recognize sponsors and community pathfinders who have uplifted the Hmong community in Merced across generations, from business owners and teachers to elected officials and veterans.

“We have Hmong judges, school superintendents, law enforcement, successful businesses, elected officials,” Xiong said. “This is an opportunity to not only commemorate our struggles and challenges, but also highlight our successes.”

He credited the community’s very presence in Merced to those who took arms decades ago to fight alongside the American miilitary.

“Without our Hmong veterans who fought and shed blood for this country, we would not be here,” he said. “Special thanks to our veterans for their bravery and loyalty.”

The HLUB Hmong Center helped spark the celebration by promoting the idea and helping form a planning committee, but Xiong clearly said this was a grassroots effort.

“All the fundraising came directly from our committees going out into the community to ask for support,” he said. “Our role was simply to help bring people together. This was about the community taking ownership of its own story.”

For younger generations, Xiong hopes that this celebration serves as more than a cultural showcase but as a reminder of where they come from, what was endured, and how far their community has come.

“It’s about seeing themselves in the stories of resilience, creativity, and leadership that built this community, and feeling empowered to carry that legacy forward,” he said.

Xiong also acknowledged the complexity of the refugee experience: the trauma, displacement, and pain that accompanied the journey to the U.S.

“Let us not forget those who gave their lives so that we can be here,” he said.