Lion puppets jiggled and colorful fans waved in the hands of excited children at the Lunar New Year Potluck celebrating the Year of the Pig Feb. 7 in Café Lab. Lab’s Asian-Pacific American families group organized the event.

Food ranging from dumplings, fried rice and noodles, to pizza, macaroni and cheese and Funyuns were laid out on two long tables from 5:30-7 p.m. A cardboard doorway with Chinese couplets welcomed the new year. Red tablecloths covered the rest of the cafeteria tables, and a plate of oranges, a symbol of luck, served as the centerpiece of each.

After eating, children experimented with crafts and could get their faces painted. Parents could purchase small trinkets at a gift shop, which contributed to funding for the dinner.

Senior Emily Sun, one of a few high school students who attended the event, said it was “a wonderful experience for all.”

Senior Abraham Zelchenko also said he had a good time and is glad that Lab hosts events like these because they are great ways to engage and connect with other people.

The event was organized and funded by a group of parents including Sieglinde Lim-Seiwert, Fei Liu and Cherry Chen, who along with another organizer ended the night with trivia and riddles on details, symbolism and the meaning of the Lunar New Year. Correct answers were rewarded with tickets that could be redeemed for prizes.

To conclude the dinner, organizers passed out traditional red envelopes containing candy and bookmarks.