PARADE OF LANTERNS: Friday, Feb 11, Meet at Alpine Park at 5:45pm; Parade leaves at 6pm!
CELEBRATE: The Parade moves down F St and travels to the SteamPlant where the community is invited to celebrate with a program, music, crafts, and activities. The event is free to attend. Refreshments available for purchase. In addition, a few very special handmade lanterns painted by local artists will be featured and on view during the celebration!
ABOUT THE LANTERN FESTIVAL & WORKSHOPS:
The Lunar New Year is typically celebrated for 15 days, with events kicking off on Lunar New Year then culminating after 15 days on the day of The Lantern Festival. Lanterns signify many things including peace, renewal, light, remembrance, and family. Students and the community can participate in lantern-making workshops in their school, club, or at the Box of Bubbles. Participants explore the cultural significance and traditions of lanterns and can create their own through hands-on workshops. The final lanterns will be featured in Salida’s first Parade of Lanterns- likely a festive and magical celebration not to be missed!
ABOUT SALIDA LUNAR NEW YEAR PARADE & ASIA FEST:
Since 2016, Salida Creativity Lab partners with area schools, after school programs, and community groups during Lunar New Year & Asia Fest to provide diverse cultural programming in our rural town to more than 250 students and community members each year. Children and community, from preschool to adult, celebrate the Lunar New Year and Asian culture through stories and art, and also create imaginative 3D work culminating in a uniquely Salida homegrown parade featuring paper mache dragons and lanterns. The parade provides students and the community an opportunity to showcase their creativity and show appreciation and awareness of Asian culture and traditions. ASIA FEST also offers a variety of diverse cultural events. Prior years have included a presentation of traditional Korean dress, Filipino traditional dance The Tinikling, the Dragon and Lion Dance Team from the Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center, and student art shows. New this year is Salida’s first Lantern Festival and Parade of Lanterns! Thanks in part to participants like you, Salida Creativity Lab continues this festive and important celebration for the community!
Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors:
Follow Salida Creativity Lab on Facebook for up to date announcements!
2020 Lunar New Year: The Year of the Rat- 4th annual parade and community celebration. February 8, 2020. Throughout January and February, over 200 students in area schools, preschool to 8th grade, learn about the Asian tradition through stories and art, and create dragons and decorations, culminating in a community parade and celebration. Local artists, families, and friends are also invited to create dragons and costumes for the parade in four, free workshops held at the Box of Bubbles. New this year is an Asian themed art show for students, an appearance by the Colorado Asian Cultural and Heritage Dragon and Lion Association, and an evening event for adults. See below for more information. To get involved or for more information, contact tina@salidacreativitylab.com
2020 ASIA FEST Activities:
FILM- January 25 at 7:00pm. Join us for kick off to Asia Fest 2020 with a screening of the film The Farewell starring Golden Globe winner Best Actress Awkwafina. Presented by the SteamPlant.
STUDENT ART SHOW at Fun Street Arcade! Students K-12 can enter the art show and win prizes! All work will be displayed. Make a piece of art with an Asian theme, turn it into the Arcade by Jan 31. Judging and viewing Feb 3-9. Prizes for different age groups. Winners announced after the Parade Feb 8. More info @Salida Creativity Lab Facebook.
JAPANESE ORIGAMI Workshop at the Boys & Girls Club, Tuesday, Jan 28; 4:30-5:30pm. Past workshops included Anime/Manga illustration and Chinese brush painting.
2020 FREE DRAGON-MAKING WORKSHOPS at Box of Bubbles Jan 22, 29, 31, Feb 7; 6-7:30pm. Grab your friends and family and form a dragon team to participate in the 4th annual Chinese New Year dragon parade on February 8! Community members are invited to attend free dragon-making workshops with Salida Creativity Lab! Over 4 sessions leading up to the parade, Tina will guide your team to create a dragon head and body so you will be ready for the parade. For all ages, adults too! We will use recycled materials, paper mache, fabric, ribbon, cardboard, and more. All basic materials provided though feel free to add to our stock for sharing: cardboard boxes, ribbon, fabric, masking tape, glue sticks. etc.
Attend all four sessions, or drop in and out to get ideas! Everyone welcome. Free.
Thank you for helping us celebrate culture and diversity in Salida!
Contact tina@salidacreativitylab.com for more info. Thanks to Ken Brandon and Box of Bubbles for providing workshop space for dragon-making.
2020 DRAGON PARADE! Saturday February 8. Join or watch the parade! Meet at Alpine Park at 2:00pm; Parade leaves ~2:15pm, and travels to Riverside Park. Immediately after the parade, the Art Show awards will be announced, and we will have a very special performance by the Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center Dragon & Lion Dance Association from Denver! Riverside Park. Free!
More important Parade info: Foot traffic, bikes, wagons, strollers, wheelchairs. No Motorized vehicles allowed.
Volunteers needed for parade, Riverside Park and SteamPlant decoration, set up, and clean up. Contact tina@salidacreativitylab.com to get involved.
2020 ASIAN FUSION LOUNGE DISCO PARTY-
Saturday night, February 8, 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Salida SteamPlant Ballroom. $15.
An evening event for adults. After the excitement from the parade has settled, rest up, then come back and join us as we bring Asia Fest to a close with the Asian Fusion Lounge Disco Party! Celebrate Lunar New Year with a trip to SouthEast Asia! Step into the swankiest Asian fusion lounge this side of the Arkansas with dress-up, food, entertainment, dj and dancing! A tropical jungle and Southeast Asian menu by Little Cambodia restaurant awaits with heavy tastings of roast pig (Filipino lechon), pineapple fried rice, fresh salads, and sumptuous, lucky noodles! Performance by Colorado Asian Heritage and Cultural Association Dragon and Lion Association. Then dance, dance, dance the night away with DJ and friends on your deserted island. Swanky cocktail attire encouraged. Prizes for the Swankiest. Cash bar. Saturday night, February 8 from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Salida SteamPlant Ballroom. $15.
Reserve early, very limited space. This event is adult only.
Thank you to our 2020 Sponsors:
High Country Bank
Salida Mountain Sports
Kaleidoscope Toys
The Mountain Mail
Contact Tina@salidacreativitylab.com to help sponsor this free event for the community.
Follow Salida Creativity Lab on Facebook for the most up to date news.
Click here for beautiful photos by Cailey Mcdermott from previous years @phrecklesphoto. Rights: arkmagazine.net Photos and video of Chinese New Year Parade
salida creativity lab 