Chinese New Year celebration in Kannapolis Jan. 14

KANNAPOLIS — Scientists at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis who formed the Cabarrus Chinese American Association will host a Chinese New Year celebration Jan. 14 to raise money for a Chinese Language and Art School.

The festival will run from 1 to 6 p.m. at Cox Mill High School, 1355 Cox Mill Road in Concord.

The event will feature performers from the Raleigh area like the RTP Chinese Singers Club, Ruby Slippers Chinese Dance Club and the NC-RTP Chinese Music Instrument Ensemble, as well as Charlotte-area performers from Chinese Phoenix Arts and the Pacific Arts Troupe.

Cox Mill High School students will add American-style singing. All performers are donating their time to the event.

Chinese restaurants and stores in the area will also offer traditional Chinese crafts and food for sale. The event will include traditional decorations and games for children and their families to enjoy.

The event is open to the public. Tickets when ordered online at www.cabarruschinese.org are $8 for adults and $5 for children six to 12. Kids under 6 are free.

At the door, tickets are $10 for adults. Proceeds benefit the CCAA’s Chinese Language and Art School.

Research Campus scientists in Kannapolis formed the Cabarrus Chinese American Association in 2011 with the goal of introducing Chinese culture to the area and opening a Chinese Language and Art School.

The school opened in September 2011 at Cox Mill Elementary School in Concord, and classes are held on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Research Campus is home to eight universities as well as corporate, government and non-profit partners all focused on research into human health, nutrition and agriculture to prevent, treat and cure disease.

The David H. Murdock Research Institute is the flagship organization that serves scientists on and off campus through six laboratories, scientific equipment and customer-focused research services.

Murdock, the California billionaire and chairman of Dole Food Co., founded the Research Campus in 2005 to fulfill a promise to his deceased wife to help find a cure for cancer. Murdock owns a home in Rowan County.