Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in US city

CHICAGO－Chicago will celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year citywide from Friday to Feb 9 with cultural performances, colorful parades and special events to usher in the Year of the Rat, according to organizers.

The celebrations will start with an opening event at the Chicago Cultural Center on Friday.

Following the Chinese New Year Concert that will debut at the Chicago Symphony Center on Sunday, jointly presented by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and the Zhejiang Shaoju Opera Theater, the Aon Grand Ballroom in Navy Pier will be turned into a festive marketplace featuring decor, costumes, music and dance performances, and traditional Chinese food and crafts. Two parades will be held in Chinatown and the Uptown neighborhood, when marching bands, colorful floats and lion dances will convey the festive mood of Lunar New Year to local residents.

The Art Institute of Chicago will host a multigenerational event to celebrate the Year of the Rat, featuring creation, music, games, an art demonstration, a performance about the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and gallery talks in English and Mandarin.

The Chinese Fine Arts Society will host a lantern procession through Millennium Park to Maggie Daley Park, followed by more activities, such as a lion dance, art creation and ice skating.

The Chicago Blackhawks will join the Chicago Bulls to celebrate Lunar New Year during its game with the Winnipeg Jets this year. Traditional Chinese lion and dragon dances will be staged during the game. Throughout the citywide celebrations, visitors to Fashion Outlets of Chicago and The Shops at North Bridge in downtown will receive red envelopes containing exclusive Lunar New Year offers from participating stores.

"Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese people, embodying our cultural traditions and aesthetic values," says Chinese consul general in Chicago Zhao Jian.

Zhao says shows by Chinese art groups that have visited and performed in Chicago for Lunar New Year celebrations in previous years not only brought the opportunity to enjoy the glamour of Chinese culture but also "enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples".

"Chinese New Year is always a cultural highlight for the city of Chicago," says David Whitaker, Choose Chicago's president and CEO. "The festivities and celebrations that mark the Chinese New Year holiday are a great way to showcase the artistic excellence of the participating cultural institutions and celebrate our special relationship with both Chinese visitors and our local Chinese community that calls Chicago home."

Mark Kelly, commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events of Chicago's city government, says: "Chicago's Chinatown is one of the largest in North America. Chicago is a proud home of such a vibrant Chinese community that celebrates its rich culture (and) traditions with gusto."

2020 will be the seventh year in a row for the third-largest city in the United States to celebrate Lunar New Year, which falls on Saturday this year.