Events
Find ZIRAN at These Ongoing or Upcoming Community Events- Get Involved!
Spring Cleaning
Find homes for items you no longer need in the following events.
Mark your calendar!
See details of the firs two events right below.
The other two events are in planning. Check back in the future for updates. Scroll down more to reference the similar two events in the past.
Aug 21 Weekend: LET IT GO - Swap & Flea Market
Nov-Dec: Winter Drive for Century College
April 11-22 Spring Donations For Century College Resource Center & IOCP
Drop off at West Metro Chinese Church
3695 County Rd 101, Plymouth, MN 55446
Use this flyer if you would like to organize donation at your company, school, party etc.
May 30, 2026 (Saturday)
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (CDT)
Hilde Performance Center
3500 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447
Food, Culture, Performances, Community
Experience one of the largest Asian cultural festivals in the community.
Enjoy authentic food, live performances, and unique local vendors.
Event Highlights:
Watermelon contest, Parade, K- Pop Dance, Night music
More detail at https://tcasianfair.org/event-highlights/
Join ZIRAN :
Take a bit time to be part of this event by volunteering and,
Spend most time having fun!
Past Events
Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1:30–5PM
Robert H. Rohlf Room, 1st floor, Ridgedale Library
(12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305)
Event Highlights:
2:00–3:30 PM: Organic gardening talk and panel discussion
Limited seats available. 👉 Please RSVP. (https://forms.gle/GxDyPLBNwNySDrxA8)
Come to listen to experts sharing tips and experience in organic planting and farming, and share your stories.
Find a new home for your extra seeds, seedlings, unused gardening tools, flower pots, and more!
Garden experts and lovers of all ages and experience levels are all welcome!
Meet fellow nature-loving friends, and who knows, you may find your soulmate!
Participants may offer items for sale, for free, or for exchange
Thanks to the support of Hennepin County Fortify Program.
11- 3pm, March 20, 2026 at Science Museum of Minnesota
(120 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102)
The Science Museum of Minnesota is welcoming the best and brightest thinkers, innovators, and educators to celebrate community and the science that connects us. Science is better when we all work together.
During Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in STEM Day, the Science Museum of Minnesota brings together voices from across Twin Cities community organizations, educational institutions, and advocacy groups to celebrate and elevate the impacts of often underrepresented communities in STEM.
ZIRAN is proud to return for another year with fun, hands-on activities that showcase how we can all help build a healthier, more sustainable community! (see our 2025 report)
Bring the whole family to ZIRAN’s table on Level 4, near the entrance to the SKIN exhibit, for hands-on fun and inspiring ideas to help care for our planet!
Winter Gear (new or gently used)
Jackets/Sweater/Sweatshirt
Jeans/Sweat pants/Snow pants
Hats, Scalf & Mittens
Socks (new)
Boots
Business (casual) clothing (new or gently used):
Blazers/Suits
Blouses/Dress shirts
Cardigans
Dress pants/Skirts
Dresses
Dress shoes/Ties
Personal Care Items (new)
Toothpaste & Toothbrush
Lip balm (e.g., Chapstick)
Hand lotion
Deodorant
Toilet paper
Toys and Game (new or like new)
Individual packet of Tylenol/Advil (unexpired)
Nonperishable Food (unexpired)
Grain (e.g., rice, oats, quinoa )
Pasta/Noodles/Flour
Cereal/Oatmeal
Crackers
Peanut butter
Canned or dried beans
Jerky
Granola/Protein bars
Trail mix/Nuts/Seeds
Popcorn/Rice cakes
Dried fruit (e.g., raisins, apricots, cranberries)
Canned vegetable/fruit/meat
Drop off: Jan 11-18 & Feb 8-15, 2026
West Metro Chinese Church
3695 County Rd 101, Plymouth, MN 55446
11am-7pm, Oct 4, 2025
China Friendship Garden
Phalen Reginal Park
1624 Phalen Dr., St Paul, MN 55106
ZIRAN is proud to co-organize this unique cultural celebration!
Join us for a vibrant day filled with ethnic performances, fashion shows, hands-on cultural activities, and of course—delicious signature mooncakes. ZIRAN will showcase how we reduce waste, run Minimal Waste events, and more.
Volunteers are needed to help guide visitors properly to dispose of waste . No experience required. On-site training will be provided. Volunteer Sign Up Now
Come and see sustainability in action! Let’s keep the garden beautiful together! Learn more about the event.
Back by popular demand, our Culture & Nature Plant Walk will return at the event, Join us at 3-4pm! Register here
Explore the Minnesota China Friendship Garden with a self-guided tour.
The Light of Chinese Civilization: Performance 4
12:30 - 3:30 pm, September 27, 2025 (Saturday)
Jackson Square Park (2212 NE Jackson St., Minneapolis, MN 55418)
ZIRAN is honored to be invited to support event recycling at Colorful China, a vibrant cultural celebration hosted by the Chinese American Culture and Friendship Association.
This outdoor, family-friendly event will feature an exciting lineup of traditional and contemporary Chinese performances—including Dragon Dance, Folk Dance, Chinese music, songs, and much more!
Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets, and enjoy an afternoon of culture, music, and community in the park!
Collaborating Beyond Our Own Community: Expansive Solidarity with David Mura
Join ZIRAN to attend this memorable event
Lincoln Mall, 3300 Century Avenue North White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 3 PM -6 PM
3:00pm - Meet & Greet with David Mura
4:00pm - Keynote Message
4:45pm - Q&A with David Mura
5:15pm - Dinner & Book Signing
If cannot attend in person, register to access the talk via zoom.
Registration https://forms.office.com/r/YUKV3u9QrZ?origin=lprLink
LET IT GO - swap & flea market
6 -9 pm, August 29, 2025 (Friday)
Greenwood Elementary Sidewalk (18005 Medina Rd, Plymouth, MN 55446)
ZIRAN and MinnSea Academy are teaming up to host a vibrant community swap and flea market—where secondhand meets second chances! This event is proudly supported by the Hennepin County Community Zero Waste Grant Program.
Event Highlights
🎟 Free to Attend! – Everyone’s welcome! Register to swap/sell. No need to register to shop only
Live Music, Games & Performances - Enjoy an evening of fun while swapping and shopping!
Free table spots (first-register, first-served). You can also bring your own table setup
Participation Options - Three easy ways to join the swap and sell
Sell items yourself
Let event organizers sell/swap for you
Donate Items
👉 Register by August 27 if you plan to bring items to swap or sell!
What To Bring? New or gently used items only, including:
School supplies & books
Clothes, shoes & jewelry
Toys & games
Household items & more!
Come hang out, swap, share, and give your stuff a second life while connecting with your community!
Let it go, and let it find a new home.
🌏 Good for the planet. 💛 Great for the community. 🎁 Full of surprises!
Community & Student Writers Showcase
Discovering My Identity
3-6 pm, June 24, 2025
East Campus, Lincoln, Mall
Come to listen to David Mura, an acclaimed writer and artist sharing his life experience
11am-7pm, May 31, 2025, at Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth
Come learn about sustainable practices for everyday life at the new initiative "Eco Street", featuring a Solar Tiny House, a Fashionable Fix-it Clinic, and more.
May 13-16, 2025 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre
Join us for an outdoor breakout session, "Re-storying Urban Water: A Cross-cultural Dialogue Along the Mississippi River" at 1 pm on May 15.
May 17, 2025, 2:30 pm- 6 pm, at Liu Ming Yuan, Phalen Regional Park
ZIRAN will be offering a Guided Nature Plant Walk during the Peony Festival!
Join us to discover the rich cultural stories and traditions behind the beautiful plants in the garden.
Time: 3:40-4:15 pm
May 3rd, 2025, 10am- 12 am
at Humphrey School Conference Center, University of Minnesota
ZIRAN is excited to be part of the May Forum Community Showcase!
Come visit our table to learn more about our programs, initiatives, and opportunities to get involved.
For more information, visit https://mayforum.org
May 8th, 2025, 4 pm - 6:30 pm, at E2500 Lincoln Mall in Century College
ZIRAN is excited to join Century College AANAPISI in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month! Stop by our table to learn about event recycling and how we can all reduce waste together.
This event is free and open to all. RSVP here.
Culture in Bloom: Garden Gather & Swap
1-3 pm, April 27th, 2025 at Plymouth City Hall Parking Lot
3400 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447
Bring your extra plants, seeds, tools, & pots to swap, share, or sell! Meet fellow gardeners, explore cultural plants, and grow your garden—and your community sustainably. 🌟 Plus, get a sneak peek of the Asian Fair venue happening May 31!
This event is supported by the Hennepin County Community Zero Waste grant program.
Park Cleanup: Hilde Performance Center ➜ Millennium Garden
2-4 pm, April 27th, 2025, meet at Plymouth City Hall Parking Lot
3400 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447
Celebrate Earth Day & Arbor Day with us! 🌍
Let’s clean up the trail from Hilde to Millennium Garden, connect with nature, and learn about recycling & plants.
🌟 Help prepare the park for the 3rd Annual Asian Fair on May 31!
Jan. 25th & 26th, 2025 12pm-5pm
Join us at the Asian Mall to celebrate the Spring Festival, recently recognized by UNESCO as an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.' Discover the rich traditions of this cultural treasure and learn about recycling and ways to reduce your carbon footprint with ZIRAN.
Jan. 31st, 2025, at RiverCentre in Saint Paul
Come listen to our presentation "Bilingual Nature Education Through a Cross-Cultural Lens: Practices from the Chinese American Community"
Feb. 8th, 2025 at the Legacy Adult Daycare Center
Come celebrate the Chinese New Year with the delicious tradition of dumplings, learn about event recycling with ZIRAN, and connect with community leaders. RSVP by January 31, 2025.
June 1st, 2024 at Hilde Performance Center
Feb 02, 2025 4:30pm-7pm
Join us at the Plymouth Covenant Church to celebrate the Lunar New Year with dance, music, calligraphy, and history with our neighborhood friends . Learn about recycling and ways to reduce your carbon footprint with ZIRAN.
March 8, 2025, Saturday, 11am- 3pm at Science Museum of Minnesota
Come celebrate diversity and creativity in STEM and visit ZIRAN's information table to learn about what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and protect our one and only Earth.
