Holiday festivities kick into high gear at massive Wang YMCA of Chinatown party

The Wang YMCA of Chinatown made a play for the most lively holiday celebration of the year Sunday afternoon, with over a thousand community members coming out to take part in the annual abundance of foods, games and merriment.

“When I see kids smile, when I can see the joy on their face, when I see elders doing activities with their kids and their grandkids, it gave me profound joy,” said Sokthea Phay, executive director of Wang YMCA of Chinatown, near-shouting in a gym teeming with excited kids. “And I know that for all the community leaders who donated all the food, all the toys, all the time and energy to keep this going for the last 40 years, this is profoundly a pivotal time in our community that we are able to bring people together.”

The Chinatown YMCA’s annual festivities, which boasts the title of the neighborhood’s largest holiday celebration, kicked off at 2 p.m., celebrating a range of winter holidays with people of all backgrounds. The YMCA opened their gymnasium Sunday stocked with enough gifts and food to feed 1,000, a bouncy castle, craft stations and games, along with Santa and the elves.

“I love it here,” said eight-year-old Selena, gripping a plate with a hand-made marshmallow snow man.

Community businesses pitched in to keep the long-running neighborhood tradition going strong, Phay said, with the renowned Kowloon Restaurant donating the food.

Before the event even had a physical space, said Wang YMCA COO Lauren Reyes, people say hundreds and hundreds of families would still come together for the holiday festivities.

“We bring the community together,” said John Leung, chair of the YMCA board. “For many kids, this Christmas party maybe the only Christmas party they have. We want to make sure that everyone enjoys the holidays, so we put a lot of effort and time in.”