This weekend: Chinese New Year, Ice Fest & Aztecs!
This weekend, celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year (on Sunday, February 10) with an assortment of downtown events and programming for the entire family. Or stay in Northwest Philly and enjoy ice, ice, and more ice on the streets of Manayunk.
Downtown and Around:
When: Saturday, February 9, 2013, from 10:00am to 3:00pm.Where: 10th Street Plaza, at 10th and Vine.Free.
The flower market is part of the Chinese tradition of welcoming the New Year with flowers and treats. The market will feature flowers, handmade lanterns, candy, and red envelopes.Children’s craft area included.
Midnight Lion Dance Performance
When: Saturday, February 9. 11:00pm.Where: 10th and Race St.Free.
Philadelphia Suns Lion Dance Parade
When: Sunday, February 10. 11:00am-2:00pm.Where: Starts at 10th and Spring Garden and winds through Chinatown.Free.
There will also be a martial arts performance at 10th and Arch Street during the parade.
Chinese New Year Celebration at Elmwood Zoo
When: Saturday, Feb. 9. 11:00am- 2:00pm.Where: Elmwood Park ZooFree, with zoo admission.
Elmwood Park Zoo will be celebrating Chinese New Year with paper lantern and dragon crafts, live animal greetings featuring the “animals of the zodiac”, a live program called ‘Year of the Snake” and their first ever Dragon Parade.
Los Rumbos de Vidas- Aztex Stamping Activity (Part of One Book, One Philadelphia)
When: Sunday, Feb. 10, 12:00pm- 4:00pm.Where: Philadelphia Magic GardensFree.In the ancient Aztec culture of Mexico people believed the world was made up of five Rumbos, or regions: North, South, East, West, and Above-Below. Join PMG and artist Nora Hiriart Litz of Puentes de Salud in a hands-on stamping activity featuring stamps based on traditional Aztec symbols related to the Rumbos. Children can stamp t-shirts to take home with them or create eye-catching patterns on paper.
Learn about the culture associated with this art and how it relates to the Mexican folk art throughout PMG. Then view the current exhibition, El Viaje de los Ninos, featuring work by children about their journeys from Mexico to the United States.
Kid-friendly tours are about a half hour and begin at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Spanish language interpreter offered for family-friendly tours.
(Note: Check out the rest of the One Book, One Philadelphia calendar of activities that runs all this month and into March, which has a line-up of children’s activities and programming all throughout the city.)
In Northwest Philly:
When: Friday, February 8- Sunday, February 10, 2013.Where: Manayunk Business DistrictFree.
It’s the return of the only extreme ice carving invitational in the region. There will be live ice carvings and fun events for all ages, starting on Friday night with an Ice Bonfire in the Carson Street Parking Lot. Attendees can vote for the best sculptures and cheer on their favorite carvers all weekend long.
Northwest Philly Parents is a partnership between Newsworks and Germantown Avenue Parents.
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