As the Year of the Goat trots in, Cleveland will light up with rousing celebrations that will welcome all into our city’s vibrant Chinese community.

The Goat, who takes the reins Feb. 19, brings plenty of luck for those born under his sign: lucky numbers of 2 and 7, lucky flowers of carnation and primrose, and lucky colors of red and purple.

The luck, though, flows to all of Greater Cleveland because all are welcome to join the Chinese community in some stirring celebrations:

 

  • Feb. 14-15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: A thrill-filled party at Asian Town Center, on Superior Avenue, will welcome the Year of the Goat. The wide-ranging celebration will include electrifying performances by the Kwan Lion Dance Team, Yin Tang Dance Company, Shaolin Kung Fu Institute, Rising Star Acrobatics, OCA Dragon Dance Team and more. For more information, go to Facebook.com/AsianTownCenter.
  • Feb. 15, 2 p.m.: The Cleveland Contemporary Chinese Culture Association will hail its 20th anniversary in style with a rousing celebration at Solon High School. The fun-packed event will feature performances by children and artists, a Chinese dinner, carnival games and stirring dance. Go to CCCCA.org for details.
  • Feb. 18-22: The dynamic, dazzling tradition of Lion Dance will take center stage when Asia Plaza, on Payne Avenue in the heart of Cleveland Chinatown, hosts a series of performances. Thousands of years old, the kinetic martial arts-dance ritual is said to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck. Among the performers is the Kwan Family Lion Dance Team. Go to asiaplazacleveland.com for schedule and details. 
  • Feb. 28, 1:30 to 6 p.m.: The Confucius Institute at Cleveland State University welcomes one and all to its Lunar New Year community fair and celebration from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at CSU’s Main Classroom Building. The merriment includes martial-arts demonstrations, food tastings, games, and calligraphy, painting, drawing and paper-cutting demonstrations. An artistic community performance will follow from 4 to 6 p.m. Go to www.csuohio.edu/confucius for more information or to register.