Celebrating the Year of the Rat

If you’re living on Chinese time, it’s 4694, the Year of the Rat. Celebrations around the Southland for the Chinese New Year include a dragon parade on Saturday at 2 p.m.; a street fair Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; and a carnival, noon-10 p.m. both days, all in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. Free. (213) 617-0396.

In Monterey Park, actor and kung fu master Conan Lee will be grand marshal of a dragon parade, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday along Garvey and Alhambra avenues. A 3K run is scheduled for Sunday morning; the Flower Market Festival (with rides, games, food booths and more) runs Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. (818) 280-6860.

The Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, celebrates the art and culture of China with two days of dance performances, workshops for children, tai chi and kung fu demos, food samples and, of course, a lion dance. (818) 449-2742.

At the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, a food and cultural fair takes place in Bing Crosby Hall, Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $4; seniors, $3; ages 12 and younger, $1. (619) 234-4447.