To celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the year of the rabbit, The Meadows School will perform the traditional dragon parade throughout The Forum Shops at Caesars. The cast of singers and dancers includes 120 Meadows students – 60 from kindergarten and 60 from fifth grade plus the school’s very special guests, founder Carolyn Goodman and her husband Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Led by senior Shannon Chen, Meadows students will perform a Chinese dragon parade featuring two large and colorful dragons (powered by students), red and gold costumes (Chinese colors of joy), drums and firecrackers (to keep evil spirits away). As they wind their way through the premier retail destination, they will stop in front of the Fountain of the Gods to perform. This is the 15th year the school’s students have conducted a Chinese New Year performance at The Forum Shops.
WHO:
Kindergarten teachers Linda Verbon, Kim Cagle and Melissa Truesdell; Librarian Marilyn Drake and Fifth Grade Teachers Bill Bissell, Linda Bookout, and Kathy Brennen worked with all of the kindergarten and fifth grade teachers to organize the event. Volunteer Maggie Chen taught Chinese lyrics and customs to the students, while Meadows School Music Director Douglas Bowser coordinated the performance.
WHY:
Chinese New Year 2011 begins on Feb. 3. In China and Taiwan, this is the longest and one of the most important festivities in the Lunar calendar. Because the track of the new moon changes from year to year, Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February and typically lasts 15 days.
WHERE:
The Forum Shops at Caesars
Performers will begin the parade near Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, continuing throughout the entire shopping center and stopping for a primary performance at the Fountain of the Gods in front of Gucci. Carolyn and Mayor Oscar Goodman will make also make remarks at this time. The parade will then continue, ending at The Forum Shops lower valet area.
WHEN:
Thursday, Feb. 3, beginning at approximately 10 a.m.
The parade takes place the first day of the Chinese New Year and is considered a lucky day for merchants for it is the birthday for the Chinese god of wealth. In China, firecrackers are lit to celebrate the reopening of stores after spending the holiday with family and friends.