MARLBORO — The township’s third annual Chinese New Year parade will snake its way along part of Route 520 and Wyncrest Road on Feb. 21.
The parade is held to promote cultural diversity, awareness and understanding about the Chinese culture and traditions, Deputy Mayor Huimin Shen said.
The event will be filled with traditional Chinese lion dances, dragon dances and waist drums. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, and turn onto Wyncrest Road as participants make their way to the Marlboro Recreation Community Center.
Mayor Jonathan Hornik and members of the Township Council are expected to take part in the day’s events. At the conclusion of the parade, a Chinese tea party will be held inside the recreation center from 3-4 p.m.
In addition to the tea party, there will be a cultural showcase with representatives from various local Chinese schools demonstrating dances, Chinese yo-yo, Chinese calligraphy and discussing the significance of the Chinese tea ceremony.
Although the Chinese New Year was actually marked on Jan. 26, the parade has traditionally been held in February in the hope of having better weather for the event. This year represents the year of the ox in the lunar calendar.
Three local Chinese schools are pitching in to organize the parade: the Fidelity Chinese School, the Huaxia Chinese School and the Monmouth Chinese School. Other participating organizations are the OCM Jireh Church, the Monmouth Chinese Christian Church, the Jersey Shore Chinese School in Holmdel and the Families with Children from China organization.
The rain date for the Chinese New Year parade will be Feb. 28.