A Glimpse into the Future

What do peanuts, dates, and lotus seeds have in common? They are often a part of traditional Chinese weddings, which is one of the many things community members got to learn and experience at FutureFest.

The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) and the Coordination Council of Chinese American Associations (CCCAA) were once again invited by KID Museum to participate, for the seventh time, in their annual FutureFest. This year they decided to focus on “Traditional Chinese Weddings” in the form of a photo shoot, attracting a lot of people who were interested in donning the unique outfits. Many families got the opportunity to try on a traditional Chinese wardrobe and had their photos taken by professionals, taking home with them an unforgettable memory.

On September 15, nearly 30 organizations from throughout Montgomery County, including 5 groups representing a different country (China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, and South Korea), attended the event. The day started as early as 9 as people arrived to decorate and set up their booths. Each hands-on activity was designed to help kids develop their imagination and hone in on their creative spirit, learning to reach beyond limits and boundaries.

In the Chinese tent, visitors got to try on traditional Chinese wedding costumes and have their photos taken, experience Chinese paper cutting, and attempt to write Chinese calligraphy. A 5th grader, Mark, was able to hear the story behind the Chinese character for horse. “It’s like a drawing!” he exclaimed upon hearing the history behind the word. In trying these different activities, many families where intrigued and expressed interest in Chinese culture and traditions.

At 12:30PM sharp, CCACC stepped up to shine on the performance stage, bringing beautiful and educational performances to the audience. CCACC GuZheng Club, led by Alice Kan, played three elegant yet powerful pieces, including a piece where one of the young guzheng players performed martial arts to the sound of the guzheng. Kids from CCACC’s After-School Enrichment Program recited the famous Chinese text called the “Three Character Classic”, and sang a modern Chinese song, showing off their amazing language skills. Lastly, CCACC led the audience in doing a simple Five Elements exercise, bringing the whole community together.

To thank everyone, KID Museum had a ceremony where Representative Chris Van Hollen gave a speech encouraging everyone to work towards a better, stronger community. He appreciated seeing the diversity and cultural representation at the event, and expressed hoped that everyone will continue working together in harmony and mutual respect. He also thanked everyone for their efforts and support of the future generation.