CNC students perform at last year’s Chinese New Year festivities. Photo courtesy CNC

Prince George, B.C. – CNC’s international students are putting the finishing touches on their annual Chinese New Year celebration which takes place a week today.

An amazing Chinese buffet and evening of performances is being held Saturday, February 7^th at First Baptist Church at Fifth and Gillett Street beginning at 5pm. While the Chinese New Year doesn’t officially begin until Thursday, February 19^th, Anwen Roberts with CNC Communication Services says with the Canada Winter Games beginning February 13^th, all students at the college have two weeks off “so a lot of the international students, the Chinese students specifically, are using that to go visit their families in China and spend Chinese New Year with them, so a lot of them wouldn’t be here to celebrate it.”

Tickets for the event, which go for just $20, are being sold at the CNC International Education office. What does $20 get you? First and foremost, an 18-dish food buffet supplied by China Taste along with three desert dishes, followed by performances of time-honoured Chinese dances with traditional dress, modern dances, piano and guitar performers and vocal acts. A few surprises are planned as well.

The year 2015 is the year of the goat on the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, and people born under this sign are said to be peaceful, kind and popular. The evening will also feature an emcee who will provide commentary throughout the evening on Chinese culture and traditions, along with the history and meaning of Chinese New Year and the zodiac calendar.

And the evening includes draws for door prizes, including an iPad, gift baskets and Visa gift cards.