Event cancellation
Coronavirus fears hit Dallas with postponement of Chinese New Year event
The Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas has postponed its 21st annual Chinese New Year Festival, which was to have taken place on February 1 at NorthPark Center, due to concerns surrounding the ongoing worldwide coronavirus crisis.
The museum released the following statement: "Mindful of the current and evolving health crisis in China, and aligned with other communities across the nation, the Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas and NorthPark Center have decided to postpone the planned celebrations for Saturday’s Chinese New Year Festival.
"Our goal has always been to deliver a wonderfully inclusive, family-friendly event that showcases and elevates Asian cultures. We look forward to collaborating on future festivals that will be enjoyed by visitors from North Texas and beyond."
The coronavirus, which has been reported to have started in Wuhan, China, has more than 9,000 confirmed cases in China, with at least 170 people dying from its effects. There are five confirmed cases in the U.S., and the virus, which originally passed from animals to humans, has now had its first reported human-to-human transmission.
The Crow Museum's signature event, which was going to celebrate the Year of the Rat, features dragon and lion dances, musical and martial-arts demos, art making and calligraphy, specialty booths, wellness activities, colorful entertainment, and cultural performances.
A future date has not been announced.
The Dallas event is not the only one that has been rescheduled: A similar celebration in Sacramento was also postponed for the same reason.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora