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THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 15 -21, 2024 • PAGE 13
Enter the dragon:
Lunar New Year being celebrated countywide
BY GALE HORTON GAY
FREELANCE REPORTER
February is a festive and
celebratory month for many
Asians and people of Asian
descent as they ring in the
Lunar New Year.
"Lunar New Year is a
celebration of the arrival of
spring and the beginning of
a new year on the lunisolar
calendar," according to the
Smithsonian's National Mu
seum of Asian Art's website.
"It is the most important hol
iday in China, and it is also
widely celebrated in South
Korea, Vietnam, and coun
tries with a significant over
seas Chinese population."
The official new year
date varies, according to
different cultures. However,
it is generally a 15-day cele
bration with such traditions
as red paper cuttings dec
orating windows, cleaning
of homes and special family
meals to welcome good luck
and good fortune.
In the Chinese zodiac,
2024 is the year of the drag
on.
With DeKalb County
having such a diverse in
ternational population, it's
no surprise that Lunar New
Year festivities have taken
place and will be happening
throughout the community
this month.
So far, several Lunar New
Year events have been held
such as a craftmaking ses
sion held Feb. 10 at Embry
Hills Library in Chamblee and
a two-day Atlanta Chinese
Lunar New Year Festival held
Feb. 10 and 11 at Culture
Center of Teco in Chamblee.
However, there are other
events scheduled for the
rest of February, including
monthlong activities being
staged at Stone Mountain
Park. This is the park's
second annual Lunar New
Year Festival and continues
through Feb. 25.
"This Asian-inspired fes
tival pays tribute to the cul
ture and New Year traditions
of Korean, Chinese, Vietnam
ese, and other countries that
follow the lunar calendar. It
features a special Lunar New
Year Drone and Light Show
on the largest screen in the
world, new lighted parade,
cultural craft activities, live
entertainment, and other
cultural elements," states the
park's website.
Tickets to this event are
$19.99 for the remaining
dates: Feb. 17-19 and Feb.
24-25. For tickets or more
information, go to www.
stonemountainpark.com.
Also still to come is the
Lunar Lantern Festival set
for 3 to 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at
the Atlanta Chinatown Mall,
5383 New Peachtree Road,
Chamblee. The free event
promises craft and game
stations, a scavenger hunt,
karaoke, drumming perfor
mance and several dance
performances. The lantern
parade is scheduled for 5 to
5:30 p.m. followed by a lion
dance and lion interaction.
The National Association
of Chinese-Americans is
hosting its Lunar New Year
Banquet from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 Canton House Chi
nese Restaurant, 4825 Bu
ford Highway NE, Chamblee.
Tickets $150 for reception,
10-course dinner, and pro
gram. For more information,
go to naca-atlanta.org/
dragon.
A lighted parade is one of the features of Stone Mountain Park’s 2nd annual Lunar New Year Festival. Photos
provided
These colorful lanterns at Stone Mountain Park are one of the hallmarks of a Lunar New Year event.
