The Year of the Rat will be welcomed with a Chinese lion dance and drumming performances on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Red Deer.
The Red Deer and District Chinese Community Society presents a Year of the Rat new year’s celebration at Festival Hall, next door to the Memorial Centre.
A buffet dinner will be served and lion dancers from Calgary will entertain, as well as a local line up of musical performers.
The professional lion dancers wowed the crowd last year and are back by popular demand, said Lawrence Lee, a Red Deer city councillor and one of the event organizers.
The Year of Rat is the first of 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Rats are believed to be clever, quick thinkers. People born in this year are thought to be industrious, thrifty, diligent and positive.
The reception will start at 5 p.m. The lion dance begins at 5:30 p.m., the buffet dinner is on at 6 p.m. and musical performances are at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for adults and teens (over 12 years). Seniors and children are $20 (ages six and younger are free).
For tickets and more information, call Lee at 403-403-318-8862.