The 2026 Tsagaan Dance, for the year of the Fire Horse, will be kicking off the 75th anniversary of Kalmyks in the United States, a special cultural event organized by the Kalmyk American Culture and Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity (website: kalmyksrus.org). This fundraiser aims to cover costs for the inaugural celebration marking 75 years since Kalmyks first settled in the United States, kicking off a series of major commemorative activities planned throughout 2026.
The centerpiece event is a community-wide Tsagaan Sar (White Month) celebration - the traditional Kalmyk and Mongolian lunar New Year festival symbolizing the arrival of spring, purity, renewal, and the awakening of nature. Scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT at Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein (9130 Academy Road, Philadelphia, PA 19114), the evening falls in the Year of the Fire Horse according to the lunar calendar. It welcomes all Kalmyks, friends, and supporters to join in honoring this milestone of Kalmyk diaspora history.
Attendees can expect a festive program featuring a dinner buffet (including wine, draft beer, soda, juice, coffee, tea, and dessert), a cash bar for additional liquor (no BYOB; ID required), free on-site parking, and live entertainment centered around Tsagaan Dance - a joyful, traditional performance tied to Tsagaan Sar customs. A free round-trip charter bus is available from New York City (pickup at 4:30 PM from McKinley Soccer Field, Bay Ridge Parkway & Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11228), with seating reserved for those purchasing Tsagaan tickets and indicating the option on the registration form.
Ticket pricing reflects the event's scale and charitable focus:
- Online purchase: Adult $100, Child (12 and under) $20
- At the door: Adult $200, Child (12 and under) $40
- Free admission for adults aged 80 and over
You can Donate or buy tickets here:givebutter.com/tsagaandance
All proceeds from ticket sales and additional donations go directly toward the 75th anniversary celebrations, helping preserve and promote Kalmyk heritage, arts, and community ties in America. The campaign emphasizes cultural continuity for descendants of the Oirat Mongols who migrated to the Volga steppes in the 17th century, endured Soviet-era hardships, and resettled in the U.S. after World War II as displaced persons.
As a key initiative of the Kalmyk American Culture and Arts Foundation, this Tsagaan Dance serves as both a festive gathering and a fundraiser to sustain ongoing efforts in language, dance, music, and religious traditions among the Kalmyk diaspora. With the page featuring a countdown timer and options to "Donate & Tickets" or "Share," it invites broad participation to ensure a memorable launch for the anniversary year.