(Fireworks over Fort George Park mark Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse.  Photos 250 News)

Prince George, B.C. – Chinese New Year is here and it was marked in a festive way at several locations Saturday night.

The 15-day celebration of the Lunar New Year/Spring Festival actually began on Friday as celebrants around the  world ushered in the Year of the Horse.  The international students at the College of New Caledonia hosted an impressive Chinese New Year buffet and evening of performances Saturday night at the First Baptist Church at Fifth and Gillett.  That event was sold out, as was the annual Chinese New Year dinner and celebration at Exploration Place.

The sanctuary at First Baptist was packed with a standing room only crowd of old people and young, local residents and international students enrolled in programs at CNC or UNBC.  While those on hand eagerly awaited the arrival of the buffet, provided by the China Cup Restaurant, they were treated to some entertainment by costumed dancers who wound their way through the audience to the beat of a drum and the crashing of cymbals.  The night was filled with more than a dozen performances which included Chinese dances with traditional dress as well as modern dances (below).

Over at Exploration Place it was, again, a sold out evening of dinner and celebrations that included Lion Dancers.  The annual event, which has been held at Exploration Place for the past eleven years, acts as a major fundraiser for the museum.   And it was capped off as always by a spectacular fireworks display that was visible from many parts of the city.

So, Gung hey fat choy, as we welcome the Year of the Horse.

Editor's note:

Because  there were questions raised about the  fireworks,  we  have   received the following information:

Exploration Place CEO Tracy Calogheros says  this is the first year they  didn't have a sponsor for the fireworks." We know that the community loves that show so we decided to go ahead with the fireworks and cover the cost of them out of the revenue from the event."  She says the fireworks cost $5000 every year, a rate that is heavily sibsidized by StarlightFX.  "It’s just about the best show all year for fireworks, and at the best time for the youngest viewers because it’s so early in the evening.  After all what would Chinese New Year’s be without fireworks?" says Calogheros.