Celebrated across Asia for thousands of years, the Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar with ceremonies and celebrations worldwide.

The Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association is bringing that festive fun to Jacksonville in mid-February.

“It’s really an event for the whole family, for people interested in culture and history and traditions and painting and having fun; it’s a great learning opportunity,” said Jeresa Hren, founding president of SOCCA and a lead organizer of the celebration. “There will be 25 or 27 booths with Asian cultural themes and lots of interactive activities for kids and grown ups.”

While the event was held at the Britt Gardens and Britt Festival Pavilion in 2024, this year’s celebration will be at the Jacksonville New City Hall grounds, located at 206 N. Fifth St.

Though the new city hall will serve as the main hub of the celebration, events and activities will also be hosted at the Jacksonville Community Center, Jacksonville Library and the Miners’ Bazaar.

The Lunar New Year celebration is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, and is free to attend.

One thousand or more attendees are expected, according to Hren.

There will be dozens of activities to take part in, ranging from family-friendly entertainment to educational programs teaching or exhibiting different cultures across Asia.

Some of those include: the dragon jump house for kids; “A Musical and Visual Journey through Asian Cultures” presented by the international students of St. Mary’s School of Medford with dances, a piano performance, K-Pop and more; Japanese Taiko drumming; traditional Filipino dance by the Southern Oregon Filipino Dance Troupe; a moon cake cooking demonstration; a demonstration of the Japanese flower arrangement art form of Ikebana; Salem author Russell Low discussing his book “A Willow Tree Becomes a Forest” on Oregon’s early Chinese history; Tai Chi workshops; an introduction to the Chinese tile-based game Mahjong and much more.

Brochures including a list of the events and programs with times will be handed out during the Lunar New Year celebration.

New this year will be two visiting artists — musician Lisa Kori coming from New Mexico and ceramic artist Theresa Gong arriving from Montana — presenting their talents at the celebration.

Gong’s ceramic work involves using sgraffito designs to fashion intricate, vibrant and functional art pieces.

“I first developed my interest in pottery when I was traveling in Japan and I had joined an artist co-op in a small farming village to help an American friend build a wood-fired kiln,” Gong said. “Together we explored the old Japanese pottery towns that were famous for their traditional hand-thrown pottery. From the beginning, I was attracted to Asian ceramics and traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese pottery.”

For the Lunar New Year celebration, Gong will showcase some of her work as well as have some for sale, and she will present on her personal story.

“I plan for about a 35-minute presentation entitled ‘A Potter’s Story’” Gong said. “For a long time, I’ve been wanting to write down my life’s journey for my two children.”

Growing up, the ceramic artist’s mother didn’t share much about her backstory until a sibling found more information on their parents’ immigration history.

“I learned some details and a few endearing stories of my parents; I didn’t know until then that they were the missing pieces in my own story,” Gong said. “I couldn’t tell my story without telling theirs.”

Kori will perform at the Lunar New Year event and share tunes from her upcoming album “Daughter of the West.”

The album includes influences from the Eastern and Western worlds and was based around Kori’s curiosity about her ancestors during the mid-1800s and what tunes the Chinese laborers would sing while constructing the Transcontinental Railroad.

“There weren’t a lot of historical references when I started looking, but I found compilations of Chinese poetry during the Gold Rush … there were themes of hope and dreams for a better life, and about adventure; I had no idea what to expect,” Kori said.

Imagining what American roots music with elements of Japanese and Chinese music would sound like, “Daughter of the West” incorporates Western instruments such as the guitar and Eastern instruments like the erhu to create a blended, multicultural sound.

“When I was younger, I used to participate in SOCCA events and did Chinese folk dancing and participated in the festival, so I’m excited to return,” Kori said. “It’s always been a wonderful community event and brings people together.”

Kori will also perform at Grizzly Peak Winery in Ashland from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, for a more intimate performance showcasing her virtuosity and style.

For more information on Kori’s second performance, visit grizzlypeakwinery.com/event/lisa-kori-presents-daughter-of-the-west.

SOCCA has been organizing local Lunar New Year celebrations since 2001, eventually expanding the event to incorporate the 16 countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year.

“Our board has eight people, and we take pride in what we do and all the programs and performances are all through personal connections with friends and relatives,” Hren said. “Over the years, we’ve done a great job and it’s an opportunity to showcase and join in on the celebration, so we’re very grateful.”

To learn more about SOCCA and the Lunar New Year celebration, visit socca.us.