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Acton's 275th Anniversary & 2011 Chinese New Year Celebration

时间/地点 Time/Location:

2:00pm-10:00pm, Feb. 19th, 2011 (Saturday)

Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (36 Charter Rd. Acton)

网上购票 Online Purchase Tickets (click to purchase)

Online purchase opens from Jan. 3 to Feb. 15, 2011;

There is no additional charge for on-line ticket purchase;

Please use the email confirmation to exchange the tickets at ABRHS from 2:00-6:50pm on the event day.

志愿者报名/捐赠表 Volunteer Sign-up & Donation Form (click to download)

The Town of Acton, Acton Chinese Language School (ACLS) and Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council (ABCC) proudly present "Acton's 275th Anniversary & 2011 Chinese New Year Celebration" on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, 36 Charter Road, Acton.

Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the most important and the longest festivity in China, like Christmas to the West. The upcoming Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, starts on February 3, 2011. The essence of the Chinese New Year is spending quality time with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and enjoying good food. Traditionally, every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes of making way for incoming luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red paper cuttings and couplets with popular themes of "happiness", "wealth" and "longevity." On the eve of Chinese New Year, families gather for a formal "New Year" dinner while traditional dragon and lion dances are performed. The celebration often ends with firecrackers at midnight.

This grand celebration for the Town of Acton has been specially designed to blend the traditions of Chinese New Year with the elements of Acton's 275th Anniversary. The exciting and fantastic activities will run from 2:00pm to 10:00pm. The opening will start with a musket volley by Acton Minuteman outside of High School auditorium entrance and end with splendid fireworks! Below are the highlights of this grand community celebration event.

Music & Dance Performance

This onstage performance features a variety of traditional Chinese folk arts such as the Dragon Dance, Lion Dance, drums, Chinese Yo-yo and folk dances. The Chinese Folk Art Workshop, Inc. of Boston will bring spectacular programs to the festival, such as "Thousand-hand drum" (千手击鼓), "Images of Dun-Huang" (印象敦煌), "Yo-yo Sensation" (轰动舞铃), "Moonlight Rain" (月光竹雨), "A Night Tour of Dragon Palace" (夜游龙宫), "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon" (彩云追月) and "Lion Dance" (祥狮献瑞). Several renowned local dance and singing groups will join the performance including the Commonwealth Ballet Company, Angel Dance Troupe, Biyun Dance Studio, Bright Pearl Dance Troupe, Sunshine Dance Troupe, and the Acton-Andover Chorus Group. We have also invited professional mezzo-soprano vocalist Ying Wu to perform a piece of Italian opera, "Habanera" (卡门) and a group of talented Indian girls to perform "Kajra Re". Seats are limited due to the capacity of the high school auditorium. Please buy your tickets for the performance at www.acls-ma.org/online_buy.php as soon as possible.

Festival Dinner

A festival dinner with families and friends is a big part of Chinese New Year tradition. The food, specially prepared by chefs from famous Chinese restaurants in the Boston area, includes traditional and specialty Chinese New Year dishes, sandwiches, pizza, fruit and drinks. Please purchase your dinner tickets in advance at www.acls-ma.org/online_buy.php. No tickets will be available at the door.

Tea Tasting

Two types of famous teas from Ermeishan Zhuyeqing Tea Co. Ltd, Zhuyeqing (竹叶青, green tea) and 飘雪(jasmine tea) will be available for Chinese tea lovers. These teas were produced this January and mailed to us from China.

Fireworks

A brilliant fireworks display performed by Atlas Fireworks at Leary Field will conclude this extraordinary event! There will be a Dragon & Ribbon Dance performance at 8:45-9:15pm at the lower High School gymnasium (behind the cafeteria). BBQ and hot beverages will be served from 8:00pm to 10:00pm by Acton Lions at the entrance of High School. The audience will stand outside of high school to watch the fireworks. To enhance the festivity, lighted lanterns will be sold throughout the event.

Chinese New Year Prints (年画)

Workshop Colorful New Year Prints (年画) are among the most popular decorations during Chinese New Year time. Typically these prints show traditional symbols of prosperity and good fortune. A group of artists from Wuqiang Nianhua Museum (中国武强年画博物馆) in Northern China will join our event. They will provide a one hour demonstration and a one hour hands-on workshop. The workshop will be limited to 40 people for hands-on participation on a first come, first served basis.

Chinese Paper Cutting, Crafts, Lantern Making, Wrist Band Workshop & Face Painting

Local Chinese artists will host workshops to teach Chinese paper cutting, crafts, and to make lanterns and wrist bands. Craft lovers shouldn't miss out on this great opportunity. The paper-cuttings are popular decorations for windows during Chinese New Year time. Different patterns of face-painting will be fun for kids to explore and enjoy.

Chinese Arts & Calligraphy Exhibitions and Demonstrations

A Chinese Painting and Calligraphy exhibition will showcase artwork from both professional artists and students of the Acton Chinese Language School painting classes. Chinese artists will demonstrate Chinese painting and drawing. Several Chinese calligraphers will write your names in Chinese, free of charge.

Chinese Riddle (灯谜) & English Riddle Guessing Games

The Chinese Riddle Guessing game is a Chinese New Year tradition. This time, we have added English Riddle guessing games to accommodate for all party-goers. The winner of each riddle will be rewarded with a prize. These brain challenges will certainly be stimulating and fun for word wizards.

Acton History Exhibition

The Acton Historical Commission and the Acton Minutemen will host an exhibition to showcase the history of Acton. The Acton Minutemen will perform a musket volley outside of the high school auditorium entrance at 2:00pm to kick off the celebration and prior to the fireworks. 275th Anniversary souvenirs will be sold throughout the event.

Acton Boxborough Cultural Council (ABCC) Exhibition

The Acton Boxborough Cultural Council will host an exhibition to display the multiple cultural events taking place in Acton and surrounding areas. The exhibition will also include several local artistic groups and organizations.

Lion & Ribbon Dance, Martial Arts & Tai Chi Demonstrations

Several Martial Arts organizations, dance troupes, and Tai Chi masters will perform outside of the High School auditorium (East Commons), featuring lion dance, ribbon dance, Kung fu and Tai Chi movements from 3:00-4:30pm. This exciting interactive activity will be fun to watch and participate in.

Chinese Music Instruments Demonstration & Kids Activities

Musicians and students will demonstrate Chinese music instruments such as the erhu and pipa. These activities will be highly interactive for kids to enjoy. A few kids games for ages 3 years-old and up will be organized for those who want to be more physically active from 7:00-8:30pm in the lower High School gymnasium (behind the cafeteria). Small prizes will be given to brighten the young hearts.

We hope you are as excited as we are about this great community event. To help us better organize this event, please purchase your performance and dinner tickets at www.acls-ma.org/online_buy.php as soon as possible (Please note that the rest of the activities are free of charge). Tickets are available online from January 3 to February 15 or until they are sold out. Tickets are also available on Sundays during Acton Chinese Language School operation hours, at Acton Pharmacy, Harmony's Restaurant/Grocery Store, Middlesex Savings Bank, Red White & Brew Market, Acton School of Ballet and Acton Chinese Martial Arts. Visit Event Tickets for details.

Please spread the news about the "Acton's 275th Anniversary & 2011 Chinese New Year Celebration" among your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Bring your family and friends to the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School on February 19 to experience this once in a life time dual celebration of Acton's history!

Please come back often for more event updates. You may also visit at www.acton-ma.gov/events for event information.

Best wishes to a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

"Event Planning & Preparation Committees"