Say goodbye to the Year of the Snake and celebrate the Year of the Horse this Friday, January 31, 2013.
According to centuries of Chinese literature, those born in the year of the horse will have the attributes of freedom, passion, competitiveness, nobility and leadership. For everybody else, this means a year of speed and having busy schedules. Before your calendar gets filled up, you should check out a few places to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Wooden Horse.
Chinese Lantern Festival shines at Fair Park, in Dallas, Texas, until February 17, 2014
Dallas Fair Park
1121 First Avenue
Dallas, TX 75210
214-928-7670
info@chineselanternfestival.com
The Chinese Lantern Festival comprises a collection of modern lanterns made of silky cloth, glass, and porcelain. Electrically lit using energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (new this season). Among them, the impressive Imperial Dragon Boat, stretching over 120 feet in the middle of the lagoon; and the Porcelain Pagoda—nine spires which tower up to 53 feet. The pagoda is made from a staggering 68,000 plates, bowls, spoons, and wine cups...all tied together by hand.
When the sun goes down, the lanterns come to life, as the art illuminates, moves, and takes on an other-worldly life of its own. It's truly a fantasyland of colors, shapes, and cultural discovery.
Chinese New Year Festival
Crow Collection of Asian Art
2010 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 979-6430
www.crowcollection.com
Date: Feb. 1, 2014
The celebration just keeps getting bigger and better. In 2012, 8,500 people came to the Crow Collection of Asian Art’s Chinese New Year Festival. In 2013, 10,000 attended, and this year event organizers are expecting around 12,000 people to come to the event. Main stage performances by the Texas Chinese Orchestra, Orizon Dance group and Jai Ping Shin Dancers are planned for the day. The party continues on the street with face painting, a zodiac exhibit from the Chinese Lantern Festival and a calligraphy demonstration. Activities include a yoga class, a Writers Garret writing workshop, red envelope decorating, lantern making, horse puppet making and fireworks. It is free to the public. Food trucks, beer and wine vendors will be onsite.
Seventh Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Lantern and Kite Festival
Lake Carolyn
Las Colinas Urban Center
Irving, TX 75039
www.dfwdragonboatfestival.com
Date: May 18, 2014
Started in 2007, the Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Lantern and Kite Festival has grown into a major event. Organizers are expecting 20,000 people to attend this year’s festival. Spectators will cheer on 36 competing boats from Louisiana, Austin, Houston, Oklahoma and Dallas as they participate in the dragon boat races. Twenty-two people man a dragon boat – a drummer, a person to steer the boat and 10 people on each side row the boat. The free, family-friendly event also includes a lantern display and lantern riddles where you guess a riddle. If you answer the riddle correctly, you win a free lantern. Also, there are kite-making classes and kite flying. Food demonstrations from how to make dumplings to handcrafts including origami and paper cutting will also be taking place. Various dance artists will also be performing and there will be food vendors offering international cuisine.
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