On this day, the University of California, Irvine marked a decade of celebration through their Lunar New Year 2025 event. The campus came to life at the annual gathering honoring the start of the Year of the Wood Snake. Hosted by the UCI School of Social Sciences, this free, public full-day event included cultural activities, food, and musical and dance performances. Brite Ideas stepped in providing the AV equipment that made this successful experience possible!
Partnerships That Turn AV Equipment Into Magic Makers
So much of what our team does for an event is meant to be invisible. We do the parts of the job that are only noticeable when something goes wrong! That is why seamless execution is always our top priority in carrying out an event.
In tackling this UCI event, we partnered once again with Upon Request Events. While they took on the planning role, we stepped in providing the necessary AV equipment to bring the show to life! The list of services we provided included the following:
- Lighting and audio equipment outside of The Irvine Barclay Theatre.
- Music playlists.
- Voice of God audio announcements and sound engineering inside of The Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Upon Request Events acted as the go-between for UCI and Brite Ideas gathering information about the day’s performances, activations, sponsors, and decor intent. From there we ensured that our entire audio and visual execution aligned with the story that this event told! It is a story deeply steeped in the importance of bringing the community together through a vibrant traditional celebration.
How Our AV Equipment Takes Part in Telling the Story
Lunar New Year 2025 is described by UCI as honoring “a decade of tradition, community, and cultural vibrance where cherished traditions illuminate and the spirit of community shines.” It was our goal to shed the light and provide the sound for the amazing message that this event annually communicates.
UCI’s Lunar New Year festival stands out on campus first for its cultural richness. Secondly, it is prominent for how it attracts families from the community pulling outside of merely UCI staff and students. Our goal was to highlight this richness on stage in a way that left “a lasting impression that extends well beyond the celebration itself.”
Our crew’s work behind the scenes from preparations to execution on the day serves to intertwine the story of the event through our selected technology and AV equipment. This immersive day was both heartfelt and mesmerizing as activities throughout helped attendees to “celebrate cherished traditions while making new memories together.”
Making a Day of It: The Lunar New Year Experience
The day was split into two primary parts held at the UCI Student Center and The Irvine Barclay Theatre. We witnessed students and families in attendance enjoying the Wishing Tree, VIP Lounge, gift bags, and the day’s many performances.
UC Irvine’s Department of East Asian Studies hosted a plethora of cultural activities. These included origami, hands-on Chinese arts and crafts, traditional attire try-ons, and games from Korea and Japan. A diversity of East Asian cultures also offer a rich sampling of food.
Described as a blend of “timeless traditions with modern artistry” is the traditional Dragon Dance. It is always the highlight of the day, accompanying the Dragon Parade and the Feeding of the Lions. What follows are rhythms performed by UCI Hansori and the Hikari Taiko Drummers, with shows from the KPOP dance team–KKAP UCI.
The spirit of the Lunar New Year is fully embodied by this event. We are always proud to provide the expertise and AV equipment to make it happen!
Vendors
Client | UCI School of Social Sciences
Production Fulfillment | Brite Ideas
Event Photography | UCI
Project Management | Upon Request Events
Production Design | Leproux Collective
