Las Vegas Venetian Hosts Chinese New Year Party

LAS VEGAS --- The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino will ring in the Chinese New Year in traditional style, celebrating with an authentic dragon dance complete with firecrackers and an eye painting ceremony.
The Venetian Las Vegas  The colorful spectacle will also feature a parade of dancers and musicians dressed in elaborate costumes playing authentic music. On Saturday, February 17 at 3:00 pm and Sunday, February 18 at 6:00 pm, the ceremony will begin at the hotel's lavish Porte Cochere and make its way through the lobby spreading good fortune to all. The dragon dance is open to the public.

The dragon dance is an important ritual of Chinese culture. It symbolizes good luck and prosperity for the year to come. The Chinese consider dragons to be friendly and helpful creatures associated with strength, good fortune, wisdom and longevity.

"This is the seventh year that we have celebrated Chinese New Year at The Venetian. Each year the festivities get bigger and bigger and 2007 is no exception," stated Rob Goldstein, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian. "The Venetian will be decorated elaborately with Chinese symbols designed to welcome our many Asian guests as well as anyone who wants to enjoy the Asian-themed decor."

Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day, of the first moon, of the lunar calendar. To help ring in the New Year and wish all wealth, good health and good fortune The Venetian has dotted the entire property with the customary color scheme of red and gold, accented with rich mahogany wood treatments and silk fabrics. Specifically, The Venetian will celebrate the Year of the Pig with the following decor additions:

    * 19 lamp posts in the front entrance will display 2 coins each, tied with
      red ribbons to greet all.  The coins will be inscribed with "May You
      Live Well."

    * The entrance from the Porte Cochere will feature oversized lanterns with
      coin displays and rich red silken fabric treatments.

    * The Rialto Bridge (in the front of the property) will be transformed
      with 24 elaborate oversized lucky money coins and fabric swags.

    * The Front of Doge's Palace will house a 20 foot diameter coin framed by
      vinyl banners with Chinese greetings.

    * The main lobby will be decorated with traditional tangerine trees, a
      Wishing Tree, silk fabric banners and custom-made lotus lanterns.