A family friendly celebration will usher in the Year of the Monkey at Bentonville Public Library on Saturday.
The afternoon festivities will kick off with a traditional lion dance performed by Two Fire Dragons Performance Team. The team -- made up of martial artists DeWayne Hixson, Paula Hixson and Charlie Wishon -- has participated in the celebration for the past six years, says Sue Ann Pekel, children's librarian.
FAQ
Chinese New Year Celebration
WHEN — 1-3 p.m. Saturday
WHERE — Bentonville Public Library, 405 S. Main St.
COST — Free
INFO — 271-3192 or bentonvillelibrary.…
"They told me the basic lion dance movements can be found in most Chinese martial arts," she says. "They like to tell this story of the lion dance because they hope to instill perseverance and a positive attitude within the communities."
The head of the lion is from China and was brought to the library by longtime volunteer Nick Lai. He was instrumental in starting the celebration at the library, Pekel says.
Following the dance, several activities are planned, such as painting fortune cookies, playing a traditional Philippine laughing game, making traditional Chinese yo-yos and writing in calligraphy. Tracing trays will be available for the younger children.
"We also will have some Chinese zodiac animal games," Pekel says. "We will have the years up on the wall so people can figure out what they are. Then they can make masks for whatever year they are in."
This year marks the library's seventh annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, and Pekel says the event always pulls in a culturally varied crowd.
"Bentonville has become such a diverse community," says Pekel. "We have people from all over the world. They are just interested in sharing other cultural traditions."
More than 1,400 have attended the celebration over the years, says Hadi Dudley, library director.
"It is a fun celebration of cultural diversity that has been well received by our community," says Dudley.
-- Kelly Barnett
NAN What's Up on 02/05/2016