Decorative lanterns, authentic foods and creative performances will fill the room tonight with the celebration of the last day of the Chinese New Year at Sam Houston State University.

The Chinese Student Association is hosting the Lantern Festival tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Room 320.

The celebration is the first ever at SHSU, but CSA president Jun Li said the organization hopes to make it an annual event.

Li said the New Year celebrations are very special to the Chinese culture, and he hopes many students across campus will attend the night’s events.

“The Lantern Festival is a very important festival in China,” Li said. “There are many beautiful legends about the festival that will be introduced in the performances.”

Along will traditional Chinese refreshments, attending students will have the opportunity to win prize and participate in several games associated with the Lantern Festival.

Members of the CSA will also present Chinese tradition by doing traditional dancing and singing throughout the evening.

Li said the event will be both fun and educational for students who attend.

“It will be a very good show,” Li said. “Students will be able to learn more about Chinese culture.”

Li said the Lantern Festival is also sometimes called the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

“In ancient China, young girls were not allowed out of the house except on special occasions, so they were able to go out and see the lantern decorations,” Li said. “This gave them a good chance to find the one they wanted to marry.”

Along with tonight’s festivities, a Chinese art exhibit, called Discovery China, is on display this week in the art gallery of the LSC. The exhibit invites students to share in the daily life of the Chinese through their art.

Li said he would like to thank the Student Government Association for its help in hosting the event.