A free Chinese New Year celebration will be held from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday, February 10th in the Bankhead Theater lobby. It will feature traditional dancing, demonstrations, food and crafts. According to Chinese tradition, a different animal represents each year in the 12-year Chinese zodiac. 2019 marks the Year of the Pig.
The event will include a colorful and dramatic lion dance, one of the most familiar Chinese New Year traditions, by KungFu Dragon USA who will also perform an exhibition of martial arts. Xiaopei Chinese Dance will also be performing, and two presentations will be offered. Margaret Zhao of the Life Renewing Center will speak on “Chinese Health and Healing: The Art of QiGong” and a representative from the Dragon School in Oakland’s Chinatown will talk about the success of their innovative community street art program for young people and artists.
Throughout the morning, an art activity station will allow visitors to create a Chinese New Year craft to take home. Food, including authentic Chinese dim sum and noodles, will be for sale in the concessions area, and a festive Community Altar will be set up so visitors can offer gifts such as fruit, flowers or money for good tidings of health and prosperity in the coming year.