Lunar New Year celebrations began today, Jan. 29, and there are a few places celebrating around Lake Highlands to help neighbors to get in the spirit.
Photo courtesy of Wok Star.
Observed in many east Asian countries including China, Vietnam and South Korea, the celebration marks the beginning of the year on the lunisolar calendar, which is based on the sun’s orbit and lunar phases. The years are organized by Chinese zodiac signs. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, an animal associated with being alert, calm, and smart — traits supposedly manifested in those born this year, according to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
According to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, the celebration of the Lunar New Year is marked with 15 days of celebration. Families rigorously clean in the runup to the holiday, gifts are given and large, elaborate meals with dishes symbolizing good fortune are prepared.
While you might not find that extent of fanfare in Lake Highlands, there’s still a few ways to get involved. So, here’s three ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in and around Lake Highlands.
Watch the dragons dance with half-price appetizers at Wok Star Chinese
8041 Walnut Hill Ln suite 854 | All day Saturday, Feb. 1 (Dance at 4 p.m.)
Wok Star Chinese opened in a large, open space at The Hill Shopping Center with plenty of music and flair in 2021. Since then, the down-the-road casual spot has celebrated the holiday with dancing and food specials almost every year.
This Saturday, neighbors can enjoy half-priced appetizers all day, and a dragon dance will start at 4 p.m (in past years, the performance has lasted up to 30 minutes).
Photo by Kathy Tran.
Hit the annual Lunar New Year Festival at the Forest Green Branch Library
9619 Greenville Avenue | Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For the third year in a row, the Forest Green Branch Library is inviting neighbors to a festival filled with crafts, demonstrations, tea, food, local vendors and even live snakes. Traditional dance performances, a lion dance, calligraphy and karate demonstrations headline the festival’s entertainment offering. In addition, there will be a live snake meet and greet courtesy of All About Animals Live.
Local food vendors, including The BopBop Korean BBQ, Crunchies Eggrolls and More, and The Boba Plug, will be on-site for neighbors looking for a bite, in addition to other vendors selling an array of goods.
For more information on the festival, click here.
Check out the neighborhood’s newest Asian spot, Pan Asian Kitchen and Noodle
9660 Audelia Rd suite 117 | Anytime
Pan Asian Kitchen and Noodle.
Pan Asian opened up in Lakeridge Village over the holiday season in a space that has seen some ups and downs over the years. Owned by Jarren Wang, the son of Howard Wang of the Howard Wang’s family of restaurants, the new spot’s menu spans Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines. There’s plenty of Americanized classics and authentic East Asian fare to choose from, and Wang has not ruled out the possibility of adding sushi one day.
The restaurant offers beer, wine and sake, with a cocktail menu composed entirely of sake-based drinks.
Pan Asian’s website is currently inviting neighbors in to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Â The restaraunt is open Tuesday-Sunday.
