Traditional Chinese opera musical performances by the Chinese Kwun Opera Society were also enjoyed, while an almost magically swift Mask-Changer (Bian Lian), Baofeng Liu, wowed his audience.

Another much-loved event is the storytelling hour. Professional storytellers and community elders share folktales and legends associated with the Chinese New Year, such as the story of the monster Nian or the origins of the 12 zodiac animals. These tales, often accompanied by music or puppetry, captivated young listeners and offered valuable lessons about courage, kindness, and the importance of family.

"Our kids love learning about new things and different cultures," Kent and Mary S, visiting from Oregon, told Xinhua. "This whole event is spectacular."

"It's super!" said their 8-year-old son, who usually only likes Spider-Man.

Cooking demonstrations were another family favorite, where chefs showcased how to prepare classic New Year's dishes such as dumplings, sweet rice cakes and longevity noodles.

Children were invited to help with simple steps, making it a fun and interactive way to discover new flavors and learn about the symbolism of each dish -- dumplings for wealth, noodles for long life and sweets for happiness.