SeaWorld goes Asian for Lunar New Year

CULVER CITY, California — With the Chinese Lunar Year being celebrated worldwide starting February 19, Southern California’s large Asian communities are preparing to mark the Year of the Sheep (or Ram, for some) with traditional merry-making not only in many homes but also among businesses.

And so is marketing-savvy, world-renowned Southern California’s entertainment mainstay, SeaWorld San Diego. In fact it has been heralding the New Year by launching a combination of activities and events to commemorate this colorful holiday.

After all, Los Angeles County is composed of some half-million residents of Chinese descent, combining with almost the same number of, if not more, Filipinos with significant Chinese cultural influences.

Joanne Tanyongkul, senior marketing manager for Sea World, says the park’s Lunar New Year Festival area will be alive with sights, sounds and aromas celebrating Asian culture. Featured will be Asian-inspired culinary offerings and a stage with cultural performances, such as taiko drummers and lion dancers. The Chinese Acrobats of Hebei will amaze the audience with their agility and grace throughout seven different acts on the stage at the park’s recently renovated Mission Bay Theater.

Tanyongkul and some Sea World animal trainers recently held a press conference in Culver City, showing samples of the offerings including the dragon dance, a well-trained river otter, among others.

At the front of the park and at the Lunar New Year Festival area, guests will be greeted with festive red décor and artwork depicting sheep, in honor of the Lunar New Year’s astrological symbol of 2015.

Lunar New Year at SeaWorld dates are Feb. 13–16, 21–22 and Feb. 28–March 1. All of SeaWorld’s seasonal events are included with park admission.

SeaWorld’s trainers will bring some of SeaWorld’s ambassador animals to the Lunar New Year Festival area for up-close encounters with guests. Visitors will see Asian small-clawed river otters (described, an Asian water monitor) and a Eurasian eagle owl.

There will be games for kids, and at the Wish Tree, guests can write a conservation wish on a red ribbon they purchase for $1 and place on the tree.

The proceeds will benefit the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports environmental, research and conservation projects all around the globe.”

The theme park lunar celebration will also cater to its Filipino guests by offering the culture’s own concoction of “lumpia,” featuring duck ingredients, among different varieties of Asian-inspired food choices.

Among the many booths will be the Soup Bowl Hut, which has a selection of vegetable spring rolls, miso ramen soup and pot stickers.   Noodles will be in high demand as well with the Stir Fry Cart and its eponymous noodles and chow mein.

Grill & Bao Cart will also be around with its turkey legs with hoisin sauce and bao sandwiches (five-spice pork belly bun with pickled kimchee), alongside Tea Hut — shaved ice, sweet dorayaki griddle cakes and green tea.

In keeping with the tradition of wishing prosperity and good fortune to family and friends, each guest who comes through the turnstiles during Lunar New Year will receive a red envelope with a surprise gift inside.

Gifts will vary from guest to guest and will include free or discounted culinary samplings and premium seating at Mission Bay Theater for live performances of the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei.