As winter settles across North Jersey, ACME is preparing to transform an ordinary Saturday afternoon into a vibrant cultural gathering that blends tradition, food, and community spirit. On January 31, the Fort Lee ACME location on Lemoine Avenue will host its fifth annual Lunar New Year celebration, a free, all-ages event that has steadily grown into a meaningful local tradition. Running from noon through the late afternoon, the celebration invites families, neighbors, and visitors to experience the sights, sounds, and flavors associated with one of the most widely observed holidays in the world.

This year’s event centers on the energy and symbolism of the Year of the Horse, a sign traditionally associated with strength, movement, and optimism. Those themes will be on full display as the store welcomes a lineup of cultural performances and interactive experiences designed to educate as much as entertain. A highlight of the afternoon will be the return of the Fong’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Association, whose lion dance performance is expected to draw crowds both inside and outside the store. The lion dance, long believed to bring good fortune and chase away negative energy, has become a centerpiece of ACME’s Lunar New Year programming, and its presence reflects the retailer’s commitment to honoring tradition rather than simply borrowing its imagery.

Adding depth to the celebration, the Chinese-American Family Coalition will lead a cultural tea ceremony and tasting, offering guests an opportunity to slow down and engage with one of the most time-honored elements of Lunar New Year observances. The ceremony provides a moment of reflection amid the excitement, introducing attendees to the history, etiquette, and meaning behind tea culture while allowing them to sample a range of flavors tied to the holiday.

Music will also play a central role in setting the tone for the afternoon. Traditional Erhu performances by Fei Fei Yang will provide a melodic backdrop, weaving classical Chinese sounds into the modern supermarket setting. The result is a rare fusion of everyday life and cultural heritage, turning a routine shopping destination into a shared community space.

For younger attendees, the celebration offers hands-on fun throughout the afternoon, including face painting and interactive activities designed to keep children engaged while introducing them to Lunar New Year traditions in an accessible way. At the same time, food lovers will find plenty to explore, with tastings and free samples from well-known brands such as SPAM, Mizkan, and Blue Dragon. These offerings are complemented by in-store savings and giveaways, reinforcing ACME’s role not only as a cultural host but also as a neighborhood grocery destination invested in its customers.

What sets this event apart is how seamlessly it blends cultural education with the familiar rhythms of a local supermarket. ACME has increasingly positioned its stores as community hubs, and events like this reflect a broader effort to connect food, tradition, and place. For residents of Fort Lee and surrounding towns, the Lunar New Year celebration has become a reason to gather, learn, and celebrate together without barriers to entry.

In the context of New Jersey’s diverse food landscape, ACME’s approach stands out for its authenticity and accessibility. As part of the wider conversation around grocery stores embracing cultural identity, events like this align naturally with the evolving role of supermarkets as community spaces, a trend reflected across the state’s food scene and explored further in Explore New Jersey’s coverage of local supermarkets.

Now in its fifth year, ACME’s Lunar New Year celebration is no longer a novelty. It is a reflection of Fort Lee’s cultural fabric and a reminder that meaningful experiences do not always require grand venues or ticketed entry. Sometimes, they happen right between the produce aisle and the bakery, where tradition meets everyday life and the community comes together to welcome a new year with hope, color, and shared celebration.