Thousands of shoppers who visited Irvine Spectrum Center and The Market Place last month rang in the Lunar New Year with spectacular live performances.

They were greeted by stilt walkers and awed by traditional lion and dragon dances. Families decorated cookies featuring a gold rabbit and learned calligraphy name art. They each received a lucky red envelope with $2 bills, a plush rabbit, a fortune cookie and other traditional Lunar New Year goodies.