Last week, I talked about the annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival, and I have to admit that sometimes I just don’t understand people. The event, which was supposed to be a fun way for people to explore the city and see some magnificent works of frozen art, was marred by the actions of a small group of young mischief-makers who thought it would be fun to ransack some of the ice sculptures. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can understand, especially at a young age, the desire to reach out and break something when you’ve had a rough day and/or you’re feeling more than a little mischievous. However, there must be a better way to channel these impulses than destroying other people’s hard work and potentially earning yourself jail time and/or a hefty fine in the process. In fact, I would have to imagine that some of these individuals are probably thinking that they would like a do-over on this one because trying to explain to a judge or jury why you destroyed three ice sculptures valued at approximately $325 each seems like the complete opposite of fun to me.
Of course, actual do-overs are not usually an option in life, but there may be a way for you to “reset” your year in a figurative sense. You see, it just so happens that this past Monday was the Lunar New Year, so if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the occasion and start the year fresh, you may want to head over to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. This is because the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is hosting their Lunar New Year Weekend Festival from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, February 13, 2016.) This event will allow you and your family to design your own Chinese lantern, watch a number of dancing performances (including lion dances and ribbon dances), listen to music played on traditional Chinese instruments, and more. For more information on the Lunar New Year Weekend Festival at the PEM, please visit the Peabody Essex Museum’s Event Calendar.
Photo credit: aotaro via VisualHunt / CC BY