Seton Hall University joined with South Orange Maplewood Cross-Cultural Works to sponsor the 7th annual Lunar Fest NJ 2026 at The Woodland in Maplewood, New Jersey, on March 1. The event was held to mark the beginning of Lunar New Year, which started on February 17 and is celebrated across Asia through traditions such as Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar and the Spring Festival. The festivities conclude after sixteen days with the first full moon.
The theme for this year is the Year of the Fire Horse, representing adventure, vitality and momentum. Attendees enjoyed a range of cultural performances including a lion dance, traditional dances from FA Academy and Purple Swans Dance Company, martial arts demonstrations and drumming exhibitions. Food vendors offered various homemade Asian dishes.
Monica Burnette, Ph.D., vice president of Student Services at Seton Hall and co-chair of the Campus Belonging and Community Committee, addressed participants: “I’m honored to serve as the first Asian American vice president of Student Services at Seton Hall and a proud member of the SOMA community. Seton Hall is committed to academic excellence and fostering a welcoming, inclusive, supportive community on campus and beyond. Our partnerships and collaborations with our local community align closely with our mission. We thank SOMA Cross Cultural Works and the organizers for once again inviting Seton Hall University to sponsor Lunar Fest NJ.”
Festival Director Ms. Lanny Cheuk also commented: “This year was our most successful event to date, and we have [Seton Hall] to thank for that. Because of Seton Hall’s [support and sponsorship], we were able to offer hours of cultural performances, kids’ activities, food offerings and crafts [to the community]. We hope [Seton Hall] will continue to sponsor SOMA CCW and all its wonderful cultural events!”
The university encourages continued engagement by checking its calendar for future events or by participating in planning activities related to Asian American Pacific Islander Month in May 2026.
