CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The seventh annual Resident Culture Brewing Co. free Lunar New Year celebration comes alive Saturday, Jan. 25, at the brewery’s Plaza Midwood and South End locations, and both are shaping up to be the largest celebrations to date. Festivities abound, including performances, mouth-watering food and opportunities to learn and take part in the culture behind this cherished tradition. Rooted in Chinese and East Asian cultures, this holiday marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and symbolizes renewal, prosperity, and health. Gifts such as citrus fruit and red envelopes (Hongbao) represent good fortune, wealth, and blessings. Festivities at the Plaza Midwood location, 2101 Central Ave., include: 12:30 p.m.: “Bringing in the New Year” book reading with Amanda McLamb, co-founder of Resident Culture. In collaboration with Generation We, an innovative nonprofit dedicated to providing children with access to inclusive literature, Amanda will lead a special reading. Following the reading, 30 books will be given away, and children can enjoy a festive Lunar New Year craft activity. 1:30 p.m.: Free samples from Nana Li’s and Bang Bang Burgers while supplies will last. 2-4 p.m.: Chinese Calligraphy Performance by Miss Kang 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.: Dumpling Making Class with Qian Zhang, owner of The Dumpling Lady: Two class times, 45 minutes 20-30 spots available; register via email at [email protected] $20 per person includes class, dumplings to take home and a beer Attendees should bring a small cooler and ice for dumplings if they are staying Take-home dumplings need to be refrigerated and cooked within four hours or frozen for later use 3-9 p.m.: The Cutting Board food truck will serve up Korean Hot Dogs 6 p.m.: Lion Dance and Long Pole Performance by Thundering Wave Martial Arts Free arts and crafts: key chains, coloring wood snakes and making snake puppets Free red envelopes (Hongbao) filled with feng shui coins, ginger candy, chocolate coins, or money (while supplies last) At South End, 332 W. Bland St., the lineup includes: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.: The kitchen will serve a classic Chinese dish, Longevity Noodles, known for their symbolic representation of health and long life. This flavorful dish features long, uncut noodles to bring good fortune and prosperity. 9 p.m.: Lion Dance and Long Pole Performance by Thundering Wave Martial Arts Specialty cocktails that pay tribute to the rich traditions of Lunar New Year Firecracker Fizz (Blood Orange Margarita): This vibrant cocktail is inspired by the use of firecrackers during Lunar New Year to ward off evil spirits. Year of the Snake (Dirty Shirley): Celebrating the Year of the Snake, this cocktail embodies the calm, alert and intelligent characteristics of this zodiac sign. Free red envelopes (Hongbao) filled with feng shui coins, ginger candy, chocolate coins, or money (while supplies last) Each year of the Chinese zodiac blends an animal with one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal or water. The Chinese New Year celebration officially begins on Jan. 29 and coincides with the year of the wood snake. The snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac associated with wisdom, mystery and transformation, combining its adaptable and intuitive nature with the growth, creativity, and resilience associated with the wood element.