Sacramento is home to the largest Hmong community in California and one of the largest in the United States — a legacy that dates to the late 1970s and 1980s, when thousands of Hmong families resettled here after the Vietnam War era. Every year, that community gathers at Cal Expo for one of the region’s most vibrant and distinctive cultural festivals: the Sacramento Hmong New Year, an annual tradition held at Cal Expo since 2005.
If you have driven past Cal Expo in late November and noticed packed parking lots, enormous crowds, and people dressed in elaborate, embroidered traditional clothing — this is what that is. It is worth attending at least once.
What Is Hmong New Year?
Hmong New Year, called Noj Peb Caug in Hmong, traditionally marks the end of the autumn harvest season. In Laos and Thailand, it was celebrated across village communities as a time for rest, courtship, and giving thanks. In Sacramento — which has an estimated Hmong population of more than 35,000 — the celebration has grown into a multi-day festival that draws visitors from across Northern California and beyond.
The Sacramento Hmong New Year is organized by Sacramento Hmong New Year, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Hmong culture and supporting local youth through scholarships. The festival has been held at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., annually since 2005 and regularly draws tens of thousands of visitors over three days.
What to Expect When You Go
The Sacramento Hmong New Year is unlike any other local festival. The cultural programming runs across multiple Cal Expo buildings and outdoor areas, and there is genuinely a lot to see and do.
Traditional clothing. Some of the most striking sights at the festival are the attendees themselves. Many Hmong women, men, and children arrive wearing elaborately embroidered traditional clothing called paj ntaub, decorated in patterns that reflect the wearer’s specific clan and regional heritage. Each outfit can take months to complete by hand. Outsiders are welcome to admire and ask respectful questions — the festival is designed to share Hmong culture with the wider community.
Ball tossing. One of the oldest Hmong New Year traditions is pov pob, a courtship ritual in which young men and women toss a cloth ball back and forth in long, parallel rows. Traditionally, if a young man failed to catch the ball, he might forfeit his hat or a small token to his partner. At Sacramento’s festival, the lines of players stretch long enough to make the practice easy to watch and understand even for first-time visitors.
Music and dance. Traditional Hmong instruments — the qeej (a bamboo reed pipe), the ncas (jaw harp), and hand drums — form the backbone of live performances throughout the festival. Competitive dance and performance groups from Sacramento and other cities also participate in the programming.
Food vendors. Dozens of vendors serve traditional Hmong dishes alongside Southeast Asian staples: papaya salad, sticky rice with pork, rice paper rolls, and hot noodle soups that are hard to find outside of this context. Budget time and appetite to eat your way through the grounds.
Sports competitions and beauty pageant. Hmong volleyball and soccer tournaments draw serious crowds throughout the weekend. The Miss Hmong Sacramento competition is a long-standing pageant that celebrates cultural knowledge, Hmong language fluency, and community service alongside presentation.
The Details
- When: Annually in late November or early December. The 2026 dates are expected to be posted on Cal Expo’s events calendar once confirmed — check there for tickets and exact timing.
- Where: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815
- Admission: Admission is charged at the gate. Check the Cal Expo listing for confirmed 2026 pricing and hours. Historically, young children and seniors have been admitted free or at a reduced rate.
- Parking: Ample parking is available at Cal Expo; standard Cal Expo parking fees apply. Arrive early — the festival draws large crowds, especially on Saturday and Sunday.
- Duration: The festival typically runs for three days spanning a late November or early December weekend.
- Good to know: This is a family event. Bring cash for food vendors. Dress comfortably for walking between indoor and outdoor areas across Cal Expo’s grounds.
Bottom Line
The Sacramento Hmong New Year is one of the most culturally specific and genuinely interesting events the Sacramento area produces each year. It is not a tourist attraction dressed up in cultural packaging — it is a real community celebration, open to visitors who come with curiosity and respect. If you have not been, this is the year to put it on the calendar. Check Cal Expo’s calendar for official 2026 dates and tickets when they are announced.
For more Sacramento cultural events and seasonal guides, see our coverage of the Sacramento Greek Festival 2026, Sacramento Diwali 2026, and CDM 2026 at Cal Expo.
