On March 3, 2013, the Harvard Square Business Association sponsored the 7th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration in Harvard Square to usher in the Year of the Snake. The day’s events featured a lion dance performed by members of the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy and live events celebrating Chinese culture at the Hong Kong Restaurant. Click through the gallery for scenes from the celebration.

Members of the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy gathered in historic Winthrop Square to begin the day’s celebrations.

Wah Lum instructor Lei Ann Resurccion held up a lion mask. The lion is a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Jim LeClair, 51, and his daughter Erin, 10, of Framingham held up a banner before the celebrations. LeClair says he has been active with the Wah Lum school for 30 years.

Wah Lum instructor Bob Rosen stands before a banner honoring him as a “sifu,” or a teacher. Rosen describes the recognition as a “big achievement” and said the title is a “great honor and great respect” to hold.

A laughing Buddha and a red lion pose ahead of the festivities. During the celebration, the Buddha acts as a “greeter” for the lions.

Kung fu instructor Kathy Strissel, 50, of Malden and another member of the Wah Lum pose for a photograph. Strissel explained that some businesses will leave oranges outside their doors for the celebration in order to “entice the lions so they will bring them good luck and prosperity.”

Instructors Andrew Tran, 39, and Charles Payne, 49, along with students Jeremy and Ricky, played their instruments and officially kicked off the celebrations. Tran said he enjoys participating in the Chinese New Year festivities to “spread the tradition of the lion dance and Chinese culture.”

The celebrations swung into full gear with the start of the lion dance.

The black lion danced and interacted with a friendly audience.

Revelers were able to get up close and personal with the lion dancers.

Erin LeClair got up close and personal with one of the dancing lions.

A young onlooker got a chance to pet the black lion during the celebrations.

Sifu Bob Rosen took over the drums during the festivities.

After traditional dancing in Winthrop Square, the lions made their way across JFK Street and headed towards the Hong Kong Restaurant.

The Buddha guided the lions, revelers, and onlookers down Massachusetts Avenue towards the Hong Kong restaurant.

Red and gold lanterns mounted atop the Mass Ave. lampposts helped guide the way towards the Hong Kong Restaurant.

The celebration ultimately reached its final destination, the Hong Kong Restaurant. The lions were presented with food outside the Harvard Square landmark.

Before the parade wrapped up, the celebrations crossed to the other side of the street across from the Hong Kong Restaurant.

The lions, the Buddha, and Rosen, paid respects at the memorial of Sen Lee, founder of the Hong Kong Restaurant.

Paul Lee, son of the late Sen “Jimmy” Lee, stood by his father’s memorial across the street from the Hong Kong Restaurant. Paul said his father would “absolutely” love the Chinese New Year celebrations because “it’s fun getting the kids here to see a little Chinese culture.” An orange was placed at the foot of Lee’s memorial to for good luck.

After the lion dancing concluded, the celebrations continued inside the Hong Kong Restaurant with food, arts and crafts, caligraphy, and other activities.

Charles Qiu, 24, of Everett showed off his Chinese caligraphy skills.

Paul and his mother Buoy Lee, owners of the Hong Kong Restaurant.

On the third floor of the Hong Kong, Chinese Culture Connection executive director Mei Hung, 55, introduced a series of live performances. Events included musical performances, kung fu, riddles, dancing, and more.

Poet and musician Kirk Etherton recited his original poem “Enlightenment” for the audience. Etherton said he wrote the poem for Buddhist scholar Alan Watts.

For his next act, Etherton played the guitar and was joined by his wife Lucy Holstedt, a professor at Berklee College of Music, who performed an interpretive dance.

Students from the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy showed off their kung fu skills with a live demonstration.

Ben Leung, 59, of Boston impressed attendees of the Hong Kong Restaurant’s Chinese New Year celebrations with his rice dough sculptures. In this photo, Leung holds a rice dough sculpture of a dragon and another scultpure of a flower.