What's Happening in Bellerose, NY…

The first annual Hello Panda Festival will be coming to Citi Field at the beginning of December.

The event will be a celebration of traditional Chinese lantern-making by presenting over 120 lantern displays created by world-class artisans including the China Central Academy of Fine Arts. Many installations will be original designs. The artisans will build the displays onsite and include materials such as chinaware, silk and all will be lit with LED lights.

Bellerose guests can enjoy Chinese arts experiences and cultural performances in six gigantic tents. Live performances will be international groups presenting dance, acrobatics and music. The Modern Arts Exhibition in the gallery tent will feature masterpieces by well-known artists. Chinese arts and crafts will include dough sculpture, Chinese paper cutting, sugar painting, calligraphy embroidery and jade work.

Over 60 food vendors will be selling international cuisine from Mexico, Italy, Thailand, America, the Mediterranean, and China. Antiques, illustrations, art, jewelry, collectibles and artisanal crafts will be available at the holiday marketplace. Kids can explore the ocean creatures, safari animals and dinosaurs.

The festival works with local schools and communities in establishing arts and crafts programs and contests like the FAC Children Painting Competition.

Parents and art teachers of children that participate in these programs sometimes get a little festival flyer printing done to get the word out.

Hello Panda Festival will take place 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm December 6th through January 26th at Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Avenue, Queens.