The Year of the Dog kicks off with a howling good time in the I.D.

The food. The sounds. The smells. The reverence for family. The intricate way in which spirituality and practicality blend in the form of a drummer-led lion dance on rain-washed Jackson Street in front of storefronts with Chinese tapestries and shoes and herbs and fish swimming in tanks. Firecrackers pop, symbols clang and the masked lions blink the eyelashes on their gargantuan heads, showering good luck to all.

COMING UP

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 2006 -- YEAR OF THE DOG

WHERE: Union Station Great Hall,

401 S. Jackson St., and the International District

WHEN: Noon-6 p.m.

ADMISSION: Free

INFORMATION: 206-382-1197 or www.cidbia.org

Ah, the celebration of the Lunar New Year and the beginning of all great things. On Saturday, merchants and vendors in the International District will be joined by thousands in the city's largest celebration of the Year of the Dog, a year that traditionally brings peace.

Expect lots of music, dancing, arts and crafts, food and a great deal of excitement.

At noon, Master Mak Fai's Kung Fu Club opens the celebration at Union Station's Great Hall with the lion-and-dragon dance, featuring percussion and martial arts. The day is dedicated to Asian cultures and features performances from many traditions.

The schedule features, in order, Northwest Taiko, a traditional Japanese drum act; Chinese youth dance and music from the Daughters of China, the Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team, Khmer Youth Dancers, Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, Korean Morningstar traditional dance and music; traditional Sikh dance and music from the Rhythms of India; Chinese instrumental music from the Washington Chinese Youth Orchestra; traditional Chinese youth dance and music from the Hengda Dance Academy; a hula performance from Aloha Island Treasures and Chinese music and dance from Falun Gong.

Whew! What a lineup. Also, many booths will offer arts and crafts including jewelry and clothing.

"It's great," says Veda Sonexaysana, program coordinator for the Chinatown International District. "We always encourage the local artists here. The Lunar New Year celebration is a great opportunity for them to showcase their crafts and talents."

Last year, 10,000 to 12,000 people came, most of whom took public transportation to the celebration.

Traditionally in China, families prepare diligently for the celebration. They clean every corner of the house. They paint their good wishes for their friends, families and loved ones on tapestries hung on the walls. They prepare a huge feast. Children receive money in bright red envelopes, and, always, there is a lion-and-dragon dance symbolizing good luck.

This year marks the ninth annual celebration in the I.D., and a happy time for all.

NEW YEAR'S NOTES: The city's other major celebration of the Lunar New Year takes place at Seattle Center with the 10th annual Tet Festival, the Vietnamese celebration featuring live music, dancing, firecrackers, food, fashion, storytelling, games, arts and crafts, a spelling bee and a knowledge bowl. It's free and runs Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Center House and Fisher Pavilion. Information: 206-684-7200. ... On Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Seattle Public Library celebrates with traditional Chinese dancing, music, martial-arts demonstrations and more at the Central Library, 100 Fourth Ave. It too is free. Information: 206-386-4667.

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