By Whitney Hale, Jacob Smith

(Jan. 28, 2016) — The Bluegrass community is invited to ring in the Year of the Monkey this weekend with the University of Kentucky Confucius Institute and the Kentucky Chinese American Association (KYCAA). The Chinese New Year celebration featuring Chinese food, art, crafts, displays and performances will fill the Lexington Opera House on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The Chinese New Year program will begin with a holiday market including festival foods, crafts, traditional costumes, calligraphy, mini-Chinese lectures, cultural displays and family activities. Patrons may take in the market from 4 to 6:45 p.m.

As the holiday market closes, an evening of performances will take center stage with a program showcasing Chinese festival songs; colorful dances; and a music ensemble including artists playing the piano, erhu, hulusi, yangqin, bawu, flute, horse-head fiddle and guzheng. In addition, the event will also feature Appalatin music and songs, Gypsy dance, acrobatics and other acts by special guest performers. The evening production will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Chinese New Year celebration are $15 each. Limited seating is available. To purchase tickets, contact the Lexington Center box office at 859-233-3535. For more information on the event, email the KYCAA at kycaa2013@yahoo.com.

A gateway for Chinese language, culture and art to the people of Kentucky, the UK Confucius Institute provides leadership, support and coordination for Chinese language and programs in K-12 schools as well as on UK's campus; assists and facilitates establishing and maintaining faculty and student exchanges between UK colleges and Chinese universities; conducts Chinese language and cultural exchange; and promotes education about China on campus, across the Bluegrass region, and throughout the Commonwealth.

KYCAA, a nonprofit and nonpolitical organization, is committed to serving the communities in Kentucky by promoting the appreciation of Chinese culture and heritages and enhancing cross-cultural understanding through educational programs.