PECO Go 4th & Learn: A Cultural Journey
PECO Go 4th & Learn: A Cultural Journey
June 28th, 2022
|
10:00 am
- 12:00 pm
Franklin Square | 6th & Race Street
Follow the sound of ancient Chinese instruments to Franklin Square’s rendition of the Friendship Gate and discover dynamic performances, face painters, storytellers and more! Budding engineers learn about lantern-making with the Asian Arts Initiative and future gurus sharpen their concentration in a tai chi class. All the while tiny travelers frolic around the Franklin Square Fountain and larger-than-life lanterns as they dream of their future adventures amid the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival grounds. Children can also enjoy a free book giveaway courtesy of Books in Homes USA. Franklin Square, 6th & Race Street.
Programming
Programming
Programming
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival
Giant Lanterns! The Dragon is back! Returning for the first time in three years, the spectacular Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square is a celebration of light and culture with magnificent steel-framed and silk-wrapped giant lighted sculptures. The popular 200-foot-long dragon returns along with an all-new walk-through panda bamboo forest, giant whale that swims, mythological creatures, and interactive installations.
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Qin Qian and her students:
Kelvin Wang, Evan Wang, Lucie Song, Mei Qing Ren, Suet Ping Chiu, Hon Wing Leung, Leo Yang, Daniel Yang.
Also with Special Guests: Keegan Tawa, Ru Jiang Huang, William Yang, Adam Song, Meng Quan Wang, Friends senior Care Center’s chorus and band.
Qin Qian is a professional erhu player and teacher in Philadelphia. As a child, she learned to play accordion and erhu from her father. When she was 16, She entered the Guangxi Art College, majoring in erhu performance. She has worked as an erhu performer and teacher as well as the music program editor, reporter, and program host for the Nanning radio station in Guangxi Province where she interviewed many famous musicians in China. She has authored two books: “My Dreams Soar With Music” , and “A Musical Journey in America”. She released her first CD in 2005, “A Romantic Musical Journey,” which featured her work on the erhu and monochord, and for which she received wide attention from music lovers in China. In 2005, she immigrated to the U.S., where she continued her efforts in promoting Chinese music. She has partnered with many Western musicians to perform on the erhu and other Chinese instruments in concerts featuring different musical styles, including classical, jazz, opera, and pop. The concerts have taken place in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Australia. Qin Qian twice received the Outstanding Teacher Award at the Princeton International Chinese Music Competition, Princeton University where her students won top prizes. qinqianerhu.comÂ
Dancers
Joy Fitness Dance Team The Fitness Dance Team was founded in 2014, it’s the earliest square dance Team established in the Chinatown community. Joy Fitness Dance Team is led by Teacher Jenny and consists of a group of dance partners who love Fitness and life with common hobbies. They workout everyday, exercise and pass on happiness from the unique and beautiful scenery of Franklin square. They often provide performances to the community and related groups to add to the fun, adding a lively atmosphere.


Asian Arts Initiative
Block printing and lantern making! Connecting cultural expression and social change, Asian Arts Initiative uses art as a vehicle to explore the diverse experiences of all communities which include Asian Americans.
Located in Philadelphia’s Chinatown North, Asian Arts Initiative is a multidisciplinary arts center offering exhibitions, performances, artist residencies, youth workshops, and a community gathering space. Here, all of us can view and create art that reflects our lives, and think critically, creatively about the future we want to build for our communities.
Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan Team
Breathtaking performances! Tai chi is an ancient Chinese discipline of meditative movements practiced as a system of exercises. Move along with the meditation with skilled local dancers performing various Chinese martial arts disciplines that are practiced for self-defense, exercise, and spiritual growth.


The Free Library of Philadelphia
Pop-up readings! The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia is to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity. Its vision is to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning.
Books in Homes USA
Book giveaway! Books In Homes USA launched with the driving purpose to end “booklessness” and make a profound impact on the trajectories of our most vulnerable members, children living in under resourced communities, by inspiring a love of reading and establishing a foundation of success. By forging partnerships with individuals, corporations, and foundations, we afford children opportunities to build their very own home libraries with brand-new books that they’ve selected to own and enjoy.


Face Painters
Face Painting! Don’t forget to stop at one of the professional face painters offering your child’s choice of a tiger, panda, butterfly, or dragon.
