From the live Chinese lion dancers, to baking their own fortune cookies, Redmond teens participated in a number of activities at the Old Fire House Teen Center (OFH) Lunar New Year celebration last week.

More than 40 teens braved the snow warning to participate in the OFH’s 6th annual Lunar New Year event. New features this year included a pottery workshop in partnership with Redmond Clay Studio, with teens molding their own traditional Chinese bowls. Handmade fortune cookies were also popular. Both additions allowed for teens to engage with the arts surrounding the holiday and left them with cultural pieces to take home to share with their families.

The signature of the celebration, the traditional lion dance performance, provided a cultural background and imparted the significance of Lunar New Year with a presentation and question-and-answer session.

“It is great to continue to offer cultural programs for our citizens that teens help to develop and participate in,” said City of Redmond teen and 50+ program administrator Ken Wong. “We value the diversity of our community and this is just one of many programs that share the rich community we live in.”