Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie, Texas, is set to host its 16th annual Lunar New Year celebration.
The event will take place on three different weekends: Jan. 6, 7, and 8; Jan. 13,14, and 15; and Jan. 20, 21, and 22.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important and anticipated holidays celebrated in Asian cultures. 2023 welcomes the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac and the year of the cat in the Vietnamese zodiac.
The first day of the event will feature a banquet that traditionally has been invite-only and is held for Asia Times Square’s sponsors, dignitaries, keynote speakers, and local community leaders.
This year’s keynote speaker is the 85th anniversary of Miss Texas, Averie Bishop. Bishop became the first Asian woman to win Miss Texas in the 85th year of the beauty pageant.
“It’s our biggest festival of the year,” said William Nguyen, operations manager for Asia Times Square, speaking with The Dallas Express. “It’s the biggest holiday for Asians in America and Asians in Asia.”
The Lunar New Year event will showcase music, dance, food, art, and merchandise vendors from all of Texas.
Some of the featured entertainment will be from the Jiu Long Lion Dance Troupe. The JL Sports Association was formed in 2014 by Kenneth Hau as a way to share the culture, love, and passion of lion dancing to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, per the organization.
“It’s going to be packed,” Nguyen predicted.
On Saturday, festivities will start at 1 p.m. with performances by local singer Thao My, lion dancing, and performances by Cherri Blssm, Fusion, and Isabela. There will be plenty of activities, food, and performances throughout the entire week.
People are encouraged to bring cash and enjoy the Lunar New Year.
More information about Asia Times Square and the Lunar New Year event can be found on the event’s website.
