This year’s Chinese New Year celebration, the Spring Festival, will feature lion dancing, exhibits, children’s games, performing arts show and ballroom dancing.

The all-day event is hosted by the Chinese New Year Culture Association and will be held onSaturday in multiple locations in the University Union.

There will be vendors and exhibits at 10 a.m. in the Redwood Room and at the Main Lobby of the University Union. The program will start with a lion dance at 12 p.m., followed by children’s performances in the University Union Ballroom. There will also be ballroom dancing from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Redwood Room.

Charles Mee, chairman of the association, said the festival is a family event where parents can introduce their children to Chinese culture.

The lion dance, which will be performed by dancers from Vietnam, is very symbolic to the Chinese and has a strong correlation to martial arts, said Steve Yee, spokesman for the association.

“In Chinese culture, the lion chases off bad spirits in order to bring good cheer to the new year,” Yee said.

Mee said they’re expanding the celebration toward non-Chinese Americans. He said there are many other Asian groups celebrating the Chinese New Year.

“We are trying to open the minds of society and welcome everyone, because this event is not only for Chinese Americans,” Mee said.

Mee said last year’s Chinese New Year celebration brought in about 3,000 people, and he’s expecting an increase in attendance this year due to more local promotions. He said he’s grateful for the increased sponsorship this year, such as Mastermind College Funding Group and Thunder Valley Casino.

Spring Festival tickets are $6 for adults and $1 for children under 12. The event is free for children under 3.

Yee said getting to know China better would be a benefit to everyone.

“It’s almost like taking a trip to China and getting immersed in all its culture, and it only costs $6,” Yee said.

Ricky Alejandro can be reached at [email protected].