The Asian-Pacific Association of Longmont (A-PAL) promotes diversity by engaging people across backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, languages, abilities, and immigration status through cultural, artistic, and educational programming. The organization also encourages active participation in city and school district initiatives and student mentorship. Together, these efforts advance A-PAL’s vision of individual and collective action in multiculturalism.
A-PAL’s flagship Lunar New Year Festival brings this work to life. The annual celebration weaves cultural performances, interactive experiences, and educational opportunities into a vibrant, community-building event for Boulder County’s Asian and immigrant communities—and for anyone eager to learn more.
This January, the festival welcomed a record 2,500+ attendees. Guests experienced traditions spanning the Asian diaspora, from the traditional Lion Dance and Japanese Taiko drumming to Indian Bollywood dancing. A quarter-mile of interactive booths offered hands-on art projects and educational activities, alongside a Civil Rights display and showcases of forward-looking technologies. The festival creates space not only to celebrate culture, but to explore, learn, and build connections across differences.
In addition to being a joyful celebration of Asian cultures, the Lunar New Year Festival offers a gateway to A-PAL’s year-round work. “A-PAL is dedicated to fostering an environment where people can feel comfortable working and interacting with other community members who may be new to them, or who differ from them,” says Alice Liu, an A-PAL Board Member. Many A-PAL members are immigrants representing diverse ethnic groups and speaking English as a second language. A-PAL recognizes that language and cultural differences can impede participation, preventing individuals from accessing services or sharing their skills. “Our Lunar New Year Festival allows immigrants to share their expertise in an environment where they not only thrive, but also serve as role models to others.” Liu says this role modeling expresses the power of community-based cultural sharing to transcend time, space, and race.
Through partnerships with the St. Vrain Valley School District and Silver Creek High School Leadership Academy, as well as initiatives like A-PAL’s Civil Rights Display — which highlights how the ingenuity of Asian-Americans and Asian immigrants helped them push for equal rights despite language and economic barriers — Liu says A-PAL will continue to educate the broader Boulder County community about the history, resilience, and contributions of Asians. “The lesson is that you don’t just survive: You thrive, and you pay it forward. We all have power to shape our experience into one of gratitude and love for community.”
We’re proud to support the Asian-Pacific Association of Longmont and its mission to promote diversity and bridge gaps in the Boulder County community.
The Asian-Pacific Association of Longmont was awarded a Community Trust Grant in 2025.
(Photos Courtesy the Asian-Pacific Association of Longmont)
