Around Town: South Coast Plaza to feature Lunar New Year art and events

South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa will celebrate the Lunar New Year with a series of events, activities and entertainment Tuesday through March 4.

As part of an annual tradition at the mall, a Lunar New Year centerpiece will go on display in Jewel Court on Tuesday, this time honoring the Year of the Dog. The artwork will depict eight dogs and a moon gate in an Asian garden with gold coins and ingots — symbolizing good fortune — and a firecracker overhead.

A new addition is “Tales of Tradition,” an art exhibit of 12 papier-maché dogs created for South Coast Plaza by LIULI Crystal Art and displayed throughout the center.

Other events will include:

• A photo exhibit throughout the festival called “Building A New Bridge: President Nixon’s Legacy in Three Chinese Cities,” focusing on Nixon’s historic trip to China in 1972.
• Free weekend entertainment from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 to 19 and Feb. 24 to 25 in Carousel Court, featuring Asian cultural performances including the lion dance, plus children’s lantern crafts, a children’s variety show, K-pop performers, a Chinese zodiac expert, artisanal craft demonstrations and more.
• A limited-edition Year of the Dog crystal jar for shoppers with a minimum purchase, plus in-store events, special store displays, Lunar New Year-related items at participating boutiques and prize opportunities.

3-day UVSA Tet Festival coming to fairgrounds

Guests can celebrate the Lunar New Year at the 37th annual UVSA Tet Festival from Feb. 16 to 18 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.

The event, presented by the nonprofit Union of Vietnamese Student Associations, will feature hundreds of exhibitors and ethnic food vendors, cultural displays, carnival rides and attractions, a Miss Saigon pageant, a pho-eating competition, and a karaoke contest and other live entertainment. An opening ceremony is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 17.

The schedule is 4 to 10 p.m. Feb. 16, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 17 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 18.

General admission is $6; children 2 and younger get in free. Parking is $8.

On Feb. 17, admission is free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for guests wearing a Scout or military uniform or traditional Vietnamese attire.

The Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive. For more information, visit tetfestival.org, email contact@uvsa.org or call (714) 388-6711.

Celebration to mark Heroes Hall’s first anniversary

The Heroes Hall veterans museum at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa will celebrate its first anniversary Thursday with gifts for the first 100 visitors of the day, including a commemorative coin and coffee mug.

The festivities will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with cake served at 2 p.m.

Admission and parking are free.

The Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive. For more information, visit ocfair.com/heroeshall.

Newport Beach Jazz Party to run 4 days at Marriott

The 18th annual Newport Beach Jazz Party & Big Band Blowout is coming Thursday through Feb. 18 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive.

A big band concert in the hotel’s Grand Pacific Ballroom will close each of the four nights. Other events include poolside sessions from noon to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 16 to18 and champagne jazz brunches Feb. 17 to 18.

For prices and other information and to reserve tickets, visit newportbeachjazzparty.com or call (949) 759-5003.

Enrollment deadline near for children’s dance and music classes

The enrollment deadline is Feb. 16 for the spring class schedule of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities.

The classes — running Feb. 26 through May 12 for children ages 4-13, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities — are designed to help develop physical, creative and social skills through dance, movement, music and sensory tools. Daytime and evening classes are grouped by age.

The 10-week series of classes costs $200. Financial need-based scholarships are available.

The Segerstrom Center is at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information about the classes, contact Susan Marie Hill at smkendall@scfta.org or (714) 556-2122, ext. 4337, or visit scfta.org/classes.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church names new pastor

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach has named Chap Clark as pastor and head of staff after a 14-month search that included more than 100 candidates.

The nine-member pastor nominating committee unanimously chose Clark, the church said.

Clark previously spent 21 years at Fuller Theological Seminary, serving as professor of youth, family and culture, chairman of the Christian discipleship department, associate provost for strategic projects and vice provost, vice dean and executive director of the Student Leadership Project. He also has authored or co-authored 24 books, according to a news release.

Clark succeeds Richard Kannwischer, who is now senior pastor of Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.