CLEVELAND — Chinese New Year, a holiday that begins on the second new moon to occur after the Winter Solstice, begins Saturday this year. Entering the Year of the Dragon, the Lunar New Year festivities will be in full effect in Downtown Cleveland.
Hosted at Asia Plaza in Cleveland's Asiatown neighborhood, a two-day event will see the celebrations bring food, fun and festivities to the area.
The Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year event starts Saturday at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Hours are the same on Sunday.
From lion dances to martial arts and other cultural performances, guests can take in plenty of celebratory experiences.
The event will have food trucks Blasian Fusion and Parilya and vendors on site, and guests will have craft, photo and activity stations to choose from.
"This weekend we are at Asia Plaza's Lunar [New Year] festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year," said Blasian Fusion co-owner Tiffany Knight. "We've been doing this business for a couple years now but I've been cooking for 40 years with my mother who is from Okinawa, Japan. We like to share that love, building community with the city of Cleveland."
Guests can enjoy the weekend of celebrations for free.
Here is a tentative schedule of events for the Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year celebrations:
Saturday, February 10th
10:00 a.m. Janice Liu Erhu Studio
10:30 a.m. LingYun Rising Star Gymnastics Dance School
10:45 a.m. Stellar Acrobatic Dance Academy
11:00 a.m. Kwan Lion Dance (Li Wah)
11:15 a.m. Sifu John Cosma
11:30 a.m. Kwan Lion Dance (Asia Plaza)
12:00 p.m. Kecheng Liu (天天乐）
12:30 p.m. Passion Dance Group
12:45 p.m. Shojoji Japanese Dancers
1:15 p.m. Chinese Square Dancing
1:45 p.m. Shaolin Kung Fu Institute
2:15 p.m. Cleveland Glory Waist Drum Team
2:30 p.m. Great Wall Kung Fu Center
2:50 p.m. K-Pop Dance Party w/WJCU A Sprinkle of Seoul DJs
Sunday, February 11th
10:00 a.m. Kecheng Liu (天天乐）
10:30 a.m. Janice Liu Erhu Studio
11:00 a.m. Kwan Lion Dance (Li Wah)
11:15 a.m. Sifu John Cosma
11:45 a.m. Kwan Lion Dance (Asia Plaza)
12:00 p.m. Shaolin Kung Fu Institute
12:30 p.m. Shojoji Japanese Dancers
1-3:00 p.m. K-Pop Dance Party w/WJCU A Sprinkle of Seoul DJs
Asia Plaza is located at 2999 Payne Ave. in Cleveland.
