Dozens of children dressed in red and gold to honor the customs of Chinese New Year filled the walkways to The Forum Shops. It wasn’t your typical morning on the Las Vegas Strip which is usually filled with adults but a welcome celebration as we mark the Year of the Pig.
Parents and onlookers alike gathered around the Chinese dragon to capture the students from The Meadows School as they kicked off a parade filled with song and cheer. Employees couldn’t help but peer out of their storefronts to watch as the children maneuvered two colorful dragons and played drums perfectly in tune with the singers. Moving throughout the halls of the shops, the students briefly stopped to share stories, characteristics of those sharing the symbol of the pig, and singing for a growing audience before picking back up toward the exit.
The parade is a community tradition that spans more than two decades. The relationship with the school continues to evolve. Students from kindergarten through the fifth grade learn Chinese culture, tradition, and songs ahead of their performance. They return year after year to light up the shops in a sea of red.
Although you will only be able to catch them once a year there are other picturesque moments at The Forum Shops. Dazzling near the casino floor of Caesars Palace, you will find the illuminated dragon, a staple since 2015. Standing 12-feet high, the legendary creature is hard to miss as you pass through the shops.
“Whether it is Year of the Dragon or not the dragon remains a symbol of power, strength and good luck for people,” said Maureen Crampton, director of marketing and business development for The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
The display will remain at The Forum Shops throughout February.
