CULTURES IN MOTION

EAU CLAIRE DOWNTOWN YMCA​

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The Eau Claire Downtown YMCA invites the community to celebrate Cultures in Motion—a free event honoring the vibrant cultural diversity of the Chippewa Valley. Experience an exciting lineup of performances, demonstrations, and hands-on activities highlighting traditions from around the world, including Tai Chi, Chinese Calligraphy and music, table tennis, folk dancing, and family-friendly gym games.​

 

The YMCA will be open to the public from 6 AM–6 PM, offering opportunities to explore the facility, enjoy open gym and swim times, and stop by the Child Watch and Kids Gym open house. Guests can also enjoy complimentary coffee, cookies, and cultural snacks throughout the day.

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WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025

WHERE: Eau Claire Downtown YMCA

TIME:

• 10 AM–1 PM: Full Schedule below

• COST: Free - Pre-registration is encouraged, and a photo ID is required at the door.

  • Everyone MUST get a ticket - 1 ticket is valid for one adult plus accompanying children. ID required at door.

  • Non-member ticket registration: When asked to create an account in our system, please scroll to the bottom and choose "EC - Non-member"

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FULL SCHEDULE: 

• 6:00 AM

  • Cardio & strength training facilities open (until 6:00 PM)

• 8:00 AM

  • Yoga (Group Fitness Studio; 50 minutes)

• 8:30 AM

  • Open Gym (Nelson Gym; until 6:00 PM)

• 9:00 AM

  • Zumba Toning (Group Fitness Studio; 1 hour)

• 9:10 AM

  • Open Swim in the large pool (until 5:45 PM)

• 10:00 AM

  • Table Tennis Exhibition Game (Schaaf Gym; 30 minutes)

  • Chinese Calligraphy (Schaaf Gym; 45 minutes)

  • Healthy Eau Claire (Schaaf Gym; 3 hours)

  • Gym games for kids ages 3-12 (Schaaf Gym; 1 hour)

  • YMCA Membership & Program Information (Lobby; 3 hours)

  • Cookies & coffee (Lobby; 3 hours)

  • Open Swim in the shallow pool (until 5:45 PM)

• 10:30 AM

  • Tai Chi (Group Fitness Studio; 30 minutes)

  • Table Tennis Instruction (Hobbs Gym; 1 hour)

• 11:00 AM:

  • Chinese Music (Community Room; 30 minutes)

  • Moon Cakes (Community Room; 1 hour)

  • Child Watch & Kids Gym Open House (until 1:00 PM)

• 11:15 AM

  • Folk Dancing (Group Fitness Studio; 45 minutes)

• 11:30 AM

  • Table Tennis Exhibition Game (Schaaf Gym; 30 minutes)

• 12:00 PM

  • Tai Chi (Group Fitness Studio; 30 minutes)

  • Table Tennis Instruction (Hobbs Gym; 1 hour)

  • Literary Readings (Community Room; 30 minutes)

  • Table Tennis Exhibition Game (Schaaf Gym; 30 minutes)

  • Chinese Calligraphy (Schaaf Gym; 45 minutes)

• 1:30 PM

  • Open Gym (Schaaf Gym; until 6:00 PM)

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DESCRIPTIONS:

• Chinese Music – Dr. Jianjun Ji will perform Chinese songs using four traditional Chinese musical instruments: the gourd-flute, harmonica, Er-Hu, and flute.

• Chinese Calligraphy – Dr. Jianjun Ji will use traditional brushes, black ink, and special paper to demonstrate the four schools of Chinese calligraphy.

• Folk Dancing – Join Eau Claire International Folk Dancers to learn dances from around the world.

• Gym Games – Let your kids run around and enjoy a variety of fun activities with YMCA staff.

• Healthy Eau Claire – Learn how this organization is helping people with Parkinson’s Disease find connection and exercise through the sport of table tennis, plus other efforts to promote healthy lifestyles for the people of the Chippewa Valley.

• Mooncakes - Making and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion. Thus, the sharing and eating of round mooncakes among family members during the week of the festival signifies the completeness and unity of families. Stop by the Community Room to taste this traditional dessert.

• Table Tennis Exhibition Game – Watch two of the Chippewa Valley’s top table tennis players compete in an exhibition game. Afterwards, try your own hand at the game with instruction from members of the Chinese-American Friendship & Scholarship Society.

• Tai Chi – Tai chi is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice that uses slow, flowing movements, deep breathing, and meditation to improve physical and mental well-being. It combines gentle exercise with a meditative state to enhance balance, flexibility, relaxation, and concentration, and is suitable for people of all ages and physical conditions. Members of the Chinese-American Friendship & Scholarship Society will perform three different styles of Tai Chi: Yang Style Tai Chi 8 Form, Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan, and Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade). Audience members will be invited to learn the Ba Duan Jin.

• YMCA Information Table – Learn about all the benefits of becoming a member of the YMCA, get information on programs, and learn about how the Membership for All programs aids people in joining the Y. Stop by and say hello and grab a cookie.