Chinese New Year Celebration
Oak Park FCC hosts an annual Chinese New Year Celebration in Chinatown.
The event features Chinese Dance performances by Oak Park FCC dancers, the traditional lion dance, crafts, a prize-filled raffle, delicious Chinese food and the opportunity to celebrate the most-important Chinese holiday with other Oak Park FCC families.
This year's Chinese New Year celebration has not yet been scheduled. If you would like to receive an invitation to this event, please contact us via e-mail.
Qing Ming Festival
Qing Ming is a traditional Chinese festival held on the 15th day from the Spring Equinox, usually around April 5. The name Qing Ming signifies that it's a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime and it is also a time to honor one's ancestors.
We celebrate Qing Ming with the telling of stories, games and crafts that all welcome Spring.
Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy
Each summer Oak Park FCC enters a team in the Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy. The team competes in a series of fast-paced races along the south branch of the Chicago River in a beautifully-decorated dragon boat.
Oak Park FCC members who aren't rowing in the race gather together in Tom Ping Park to enjoy a day of eating, socializing and cheering on the team. There is also music, food and crafts, as well as musical performances throughout the day.
Autumn Moon Festival
The Autumn Moon Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around late September or early October. This is the time when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest.
Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date and all Chinese people gather with their family and friends to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomelos together.
We celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival each year with food -- including moon cakes! -- games, crafts and a story.
Winter Solstice Skating Party
The Winter Solstice Festival is celebrated by Chinese people on or around December 22 when the sunshine is the weakest and daylight is the shortest. It's a celebration of the longer days to come and it's also a time for families to get together.
One activity that occurs during these get togethers, especially in the southern parts of China, is the making and eating of Tangyuan, or balls of rice, which symbolize reunion.
We celebrate The Winter Solstice Festival with an ice skating party at Ridgeland Commons.
Play Groups
In addition to the above special events, there are ongoing groups, organized by age, for all Oak Park FCC children. The groups for younger children are play groups while the older children participate in social activities and activities that raise money for charitable organizations that interest them.
For additional information about these groups, please contact us via e-mail.
