Party like it's Chinese New Year

Jeremy Lai, 10, gets into his role as a lion. The festival was held at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center at 1288 W. River Road and included activities such as folk dancing, kids games and martial arts. Cuisine from five areas of China also was available.

Party like it's Chinese New Year

Members of Tucson Sino Dance perform at the festival. The dancers, from left, are Tao Luo, Ellen Zhu, Ying Zhang, Yue Cong, Tina Zhang and Lizhen Pang.

Party like it's Chinese New Year

The Tucson Chinese Lion Dance Group works its way through the crowd during the Taste of China Festival. The festival marked the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake, a symbol of bounty and good luck.

Party like it's Chinese New Year

Guzheng teacher Dong Xiao Zhang, behind, performs a duet with student Michelle Zhang 7, (no relation).

Party like it's Chinese New Year

Yue Cong of Tucson Sino Dance performed during the Taste of China Festival at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center on Feb. 9.

Party like it's Chinese New Year

Lunar new year

Chinese will celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 this year which marks the Year of Snake.

Eat. Play. Celebrate Year of Snake

Taste of China Festival organizers expect more than 2,000 people to sample food, play games, and watch demonstrations, and performances to welcome the Year of the Snake.

Eat. Play. Celebrate Year of Snake

Organizers were serious when they named Saturday's celebration the Taste of China Festival. There will be food demonstrations from various regions of the giant nation. And of course, plenty to eat.

Eat. Play. Celebrate Year of Snake

Each year the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center draws more people to its Taste of China Festival in celebration of the Chinese New Year.