Visit the International District to ring in the Year of the Dragon.

Celebrate the 2012 Lunar New Year — the Year of the Dragon — in Seattle’s International District! Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is considered to be the most important holiday in China and celebrated throughout much of East and Southeast Asia.

The date changes each year, but Lunar New Year always occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice and is typically celebrated for one week.

This year, the holiday falls on Monday, Jan. 23. There are 12 animals associated with the lunar calendar, and 2012 is the Year of the Dragon — a character who possesses bravery, honesty and passion, though he may be a bit of a hot-head.

Wing Luke Museum hosted an opening celebration for the 2012 Lunar New Year on Saturday, Jan. 21. Complete with lion dances, family-friendly craft activities and a New Year tea ceremony and tasting, the event showcased New Year traditions of China, Japan, Korea and Cambodia through games, food and an interactive exhibit.

Seattle’s annual Lunar New Year festival will be held at Hing Hay Park (Maynard Ave. S. & S. King St.) in the International District on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The schedule includes dragon and lion dances, a food walk with a $2 tasting menu and a children’s costume parade contest. The event is free to the public and designed for all ages to enjoy.

Hing Hay Park, known as the “park for pleasurable gatherings,” was built in 1974 to honor the hardships that 19th-century Chinese immigrants faced in the United States. The park was designed by landscape architect S. K. Sakuma, and the ornate Grand Pavilion was constructed in Taipei, Taiwan. Located in the International District, the park is a popular meeting place for the surrounding community.

Lunar New Year festival | Hing Hay Park | Saturday, Jan. 28