A celebration of the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, will take place in St. Catharines on Saturday.

More than 550 people are expect attend the event, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Merritton Community Centre.

The celebration will include a buffet dinner as well as Chinese cultural and artistic performances.

This year is the Year of the Dog in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle.

In Chinese culture, dogs are said to be able to understand the human spirit and be obedient to their masters. People born in the Year of the Dog are believed to be generous, brave, loyal and dependable.

The Chinese New Year marks the turn of the lunisolar Chinese calendar and kicks off a two-week celebration leading up to the traditional Lantern Festival in March.

The event is being jointly hosted by the Chinese Cultural Association of Niagara, the Niagara Chinese Business Council and the Confucius Institute at Brock University.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids less than 11-years-old and can be purchased by emailing ci@brocku.ca or in person at the Confucius Institute in the International Centre at Brock University.