(Minghui.org) A grand parade was held in downtown Philadelphia on Saturday night December 2, 2023. The Philadelphia Holiday Parade is the first and only parade in the U.S. that simultaneously celebrates several important holidays including Christmas, Chinese New Year, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

This grand parade was first held in 2021 on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. It attracted a lot of attention because of its innovative way of celebrating the holidays of different cultures.

The parade route was 1.4 miles long and was a visual feast incorporating elements of every holiday celebrated in the U.S. Tens of thousands of people gathered along the route and admired the floats, Santa Claus, military bands, and vibrant performances by various groups.

Representing traditional Chinese culture, the New York Tian Guo Marching Band, Chinese waist drums, and lotus flower team were part of the contingent formed by Falun Dafa practitioners, and more than 100 practitioners participated. Their bright costumes and grand scale were welcomed by spectators along the parade route.

The New York Tian Guo Marching Band, Chinese waist drums and lotus flower team participated in the 2023 Philadelphia Holiday Parade.

My Favorite Group in the Parade

Eric Eira admired the Falun Dafa contingent in the parade.

Philadelphia resident Eric Eira is a civil engineer. He said, “I look forward to watching this parade yearly and can’t wait for it.”

He said the Tian Guo Marching Band and Chinese waist drums were, “the best!” “I thought they were the best group in the parade today, unbelievably good. You cannot miss it.” He continued, “It is my favorite group in the parade. I came here to watch their performance. I look forward to seeing them in the parade with their beautiful costumes. I cannot believe how wonderful their performance was.”

Eric added, “They showed rich culture. You can see their cultural background, it is meaningful, you can see different cultures.”

Sylvia Scott from North Carolina said she loved practitioners’ waist drum performance.

Sylvia Scott from North Carolina said she was most impressed by the Falun Dafa practitioners’ Chinese waist drum team, “They are great! I loved their performance.”

Janelle Hill loved the Tian Guo Marching Band costumes.

Janelle Hill who is an analyst in a technology company moved to Philadelphia two years ago. She said she loved watching the band in the parade. “We come here to watch the parade every year, we love it. We like its variety. It celebrates holidays of different cultures and ethnic groups and we get to know about their culture.”

She said she loved the costumes worn by the Tian Guo Marching Band members, and said, “It was unique and has meaning.”

Angela Trogeon was delighted to see Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade.

Angela Trogeon who works in human resources was delighted to see Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade, and said, “It was amazing. I loved their band, the costumes, and the holiday spirit of the parade. It was rich in culture, I loved the waist drums and the music too.”

I hope People Can Feel Positive Energy from Our Music

Michelle Mi, the Tian Guo Marching Band conductor was thrilled to participate in the Philadelphia Holiday Parade.

Michelle Mi was thrilled to participate in the Philadelphia Holiday Parade.

She said, “This is a special holiday period when people celebrate and give thanks for their family. Therefore, we came here to take part in the celebrations and bring joy through our music as well as express gratitude for the freedom of belief we enjoy in this country.”

She said, “Our original music compositions are special. There are special meanings behind the songs we play. We want to share this with people. We hope people can feel the positive energy from our music.”