J4 Is Back — and This Year, It Hits Different
It doesn't matter how old you are or where you grew up — if you're Hmong, you know what the first weekend after the Fourth means. The cars are loaded the night before. The coolers are packed. The group chats are going. J4 is here.
The 44th Annual Hmong International Freedom Festival (HIFF) returned to St. Paul's Como Park McMurray Field on June 27–28, 2026 — and this year carried extra weight. The 44th annual celebration also acknowledges the 50-year anniversary of Hmong freedom here in Minnesota. Fifty years of building something from nothing. Fifty years of showing up. That's what this weekend is really about.
The United Hmong Family (UHF) hosts the annual Hmong International Freedom Festival, also known as the Hmong J4. HIFF started in the late 1970s by Hmong settlers to reconnect with each other after being displaced by war-torn Laos. An event that started as a communal picnic has expanded over the last four decades to be a strong event that has supported the economic vibrancy of the Twin Cities.
From a picnic to one of the largest Hmong gatherings on the planet. That's us.
When, Where, and How to Get There
The festival is held at Como Park's McMurray Field, 1151 Jessamine Ave W., with both Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person, available for purchase at the United Hmong Family Inc. office at 2990 Rice Street, Saint Paul, 55113. Attendees need to call the office at 651-348-8273 to schedule a quick appointment to come in and purchase their tickets. A limited number of discounted pre-sale tickets for $5 are available to individuals who watch and complete the Paid Medical Leave Survey — one submission per person, redeemable for a single admission ticket.
For parking: parking is available at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for $20 per car (cash only). Shuttle buses provide rides between the parking area and the festival from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Get there early. You already know how it is once that lot fills up.
The Sports — Still the Heartbeat of J4
The Hmong International Freedom Festival has been acknowledged as the largest Hmong sports tournament in the nation. Some people call it the Hmong Olympics, and honestly, the name fits.
This year's 44th edition brings back the full lineup: soccer, flag football, volleyball, and basketball — along with traditional Hmong sports. Sports competitions are the draw for many, with nearly 200 men's and women's teams competing in soccer, flag football, volleyball, top spin, and kato. Teams travel in from Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, and across the country to compete — and to settle some scores from last year.
Kato, also known as sepak takraw, always draws a crowd. The most popular game is kato — a game that looks a lot like volleyball, but prohibits the use of one's hands and arms. If you've never watched it live, find a field and just stand there for five minutes. You'll understand why people lose their minds over it.
Breakdancing is also a big component of the festival. This athletic style of street dance has become increasingly popular among Hmong-American youth and has been featured at previous festivals. The next generation is putting it down on the floor, and it shows every single year.
Teams from Minnesota and across the country compete for prize money. The competition is real. So is the trash talk. So is the love.
200+ Vendors: Food, Culture, and Everything In Between
The marketplace at J4 is its own world. Last year, HIFF had more than 200 vendors, 200 sports teams, and over 57,000 people in attendance. That's not a festival — that's a city block that shows up every summer and knows exactly what it's doing.
The event provides ample space for various vendors — not just local community members, but from all over. Booths are set up for food, traditional and cultural items, educational and informational resources, and other general merchandise.
You want fresh-pressed sugar cane juice? It's there. Twisted potato skewers? Right next to the papaya salad stand. The Hmong sausage that you've been thinking about since last July? Someone's already in line. Savor Hmong delicacies from savory sausages to sticky rice and papaya salad. Craft vendors also sell traditional Hmong textiles, jewelry, and other handmade goods — a perfect opportunity to take home a piece of Hmong culture.
Beyond the entertainment and activities, the festival serves as a vital networking hub for the Hmong community. J4 is a place to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and celebrate shared heritage. Community organizations also set up booths to provide information on health, education, and social services, making the festival an important resource for attendees.
40+ Live Performances on the Main Stage
The main stage at J4 has launched careers, reunited fans with artists they grew up on, and introduced the next wave of Hmong talent to thousands of people at once. This year's lineup spans more than 40 live performances across music, dance, and cultural expression over the two-day run.
Today the event encompasses not only sports tournaments but displays of arts and dance on multiple stages, attracting athletes, vendors, and spectators who are both Hmong and non-Hmong.
Experience the beauty of Hmong culture through traditional music, dance, and fashion shows. Performers don intricate, colorful costumes, bringing to life the stories and traditions passed down through generations. These performances are not only entertaining but also educational.
The HMONGLYWOOD Festival — a signature event within J4 — returns to the Main Stage, with BBD Entertainment collaborating with some of the most prominent members of Minnesota's Hmong dance and hip-hop community to bring back Boom Bap Village.
Beer Garden: Zoo Siab Music Fest
For guests 21 and over, the beer garden is back — and it has its own stage. Returning this year is the Zoo Siab Music Fest in the beer garden, featuring concerts with local Hmong artists, both young and old. It's one part reunion, one part dance floor, and entirely Hmong.
Why J4 Still Matters After 44 Years
You could frame J4 as a festival. A sports tournament. A food fair. All of that is true. But anyone who grew up going knows it's bigger than any one of those things.
The 44th annual Hmong International Freedom Festival is expected to draw more than 55,000 attendees. Hosted annually by United Hmong Family, Inc., the event serves as a platform for cultural preservation, community connection, and youth engagement, according to organizers.
Organizers hope the annual festival will keep Hmong children in touch with their culture, as many Hmong children do not know a lot about their heritage or speak the language. "Our children will learn Hmong language through listening to music by our artists," said one organizer.
That's the real score. It's not just about who wins the soccer bracket — it's about the aunties who haven't seen each other since last J4, the little cousins running through the crowd in matching outfits, the elders sitting in folding chairs watching the field with quiet pride, and the teenagers discovering what it means to belong to something this big.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hmong freedom here in Minnesota. Fifty years of arriving, rebuilding, competing, cooking, performing, celebrating, and refusing to disappear. J4 has always been the proof of that. Go show up for it.
Plan Your Visit
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Dates: Saturday, June 27 – Sunday, June 28, 2026
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Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. both days
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Location: Como Park's McMurray Field, 1151 Jessamine Ave W., St. Paul, MN
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Admission: $10/person (pre-sale $5 with survey completion)
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Tickets: Call United Hmong Family Inc. at 651-348-8273 to schedule purchase at 2990 Rice Street, St. Paul
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Parking: Minnesota State Fairgrounds — $20/car, cash only
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Shuttles: 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. from Fairgrounds to festival
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Beer Garden: 21+ only
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More info: theunitedhmongfamily.org/hiff
