Gallery: Lunar New Year Celebration

Laughing Dragon Kung Fu performed a traditional dragon dance Saturday in Taylor Park during a Lunar New Year celebration organized by Holladay House and The Arts Center In Orange. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

Percussionists played drums and cymbals during the dances. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

The friendly dragon turns to face audience members. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

The lion dance was as entertaining as it was educational, with a backstory involving a man stealing vegetables from the sleeping lions. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

Lions dispersed throughout the crowd, chasing the main character and occasionally stopping to give the audience “high fives” with their feet. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

Tiffany Lee plays Chinese zither during a tea ceremony and calligraphy workshop at Holladay House. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

The event featured an exhibit of Southwestern Chinese arts and crafts such as handmade textiles and ceramics. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

Dr. Ruth Lu pours oolong tea during a traditional ceremony and lecture. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

A participant enjoys a cup of the freshly brewed tea. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

Spoons filled with different types of tea leaves were passed around so that attendees could compare the different scents. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

Each of the workshops concluded with a lesson on basic calligraphy strokes, form and materials. (Photo Credit: Andra Landi)

More than 100 people participated in a series of events Saturday in downtown Orange to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The activities were a collaborative effort between Holladay House and The Arts Center In Orange.

In the morning, community members were treated to a free dance performance in Taylor Park by Laughing Dragon Kung Fu. Members of the martial arts group performed lion and dragon dances wearing elaborate costumes, interacting with the crowd and telling the stories behind each dance.

Later in the day, participants attended two tea and calligraphy workshops led by certified tea presenter Dr. Ruth Lu. Students learned about the history of tea and fermentation processes while participating in a traditional tea ceremony, followed by a lesson on the proper form and basic strokes of Chinese calligraphy. The workshops also featured an exhibit of Southwestern Chinese arts and crafts and a zither performance by Tiffany Lee.

For those who are interested in learning more about Lunar New Year, two additional events will be taking place in Orange this week. On Thursday, Feb. 2, Spelled Ink will host a paper lantern making workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. A teapot decal workshop focusing on traditional Chinese designs will be held at Paint It Orange on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m. To register, contact spelledinkshop@gmail.com or visit www.orangepaints.com/calendar.