OJAC to celebrate Lunar New Year
Even with part of the Old Jail Art Center stll closed to finish renovations, families will be welcomed into the sculpture courtyeard and the Stasney Center on Saturday, Feb. 10 for a three-hour celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Starting at 1:00 p.m, participants can enjoy traditional food, art, and games observing the centuries-old New Year celebrated in China and many other Asian countries, according to Erin Whitmore, Director of Education at the Old Jail.
“This is our 13th annual Lunar NewYear Family Festival,” Whitmore said.
In addition to cultural crafts, games and refreshments, festival-goers will enjoy a golden scavenger hunt, a dragon piñata, and performances by the Dondoko Taiko Drummers of the Fort Worth Japanese Society.
The majority of the Old Jail is still closed to the public until next Tuesday, Feb. 13 due to renovations that began several weeks ago. Participants in this weekend’s festival will enter the sculpture courtyard as usual for some outdoor activities, then head to the StasneyCenterforrefreshments and more.
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals and is observed by millions of people worldwide.
The second new Moon after the winter solstice, which this year occurs on Feb. 10, marks the start of a new luna.
Among the traditions of Chinese/Lunar New Year are having a clean house, which is seen as sweeping awaytheoldandpreparing for a new start. Food is also big part of the festival.
As with many winter solstice celebrations, the symbolic darkness of night is banished by the light of fireworks, lanterns, and candles. Man-made paper lanterns are hung by the hundreds in public areas, bringing good luck to the new year.
The Old Jail Art Center’s family festivals are free and open to the public, and all ages are invited to participate from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Anotherupcomingfestival, Baba Marta, celebrating spring in the Balkans, has been scheduled for March 2.
Those with questions can contact the OJAC education department at 325-762-2936.
