Lunar New Year celebrations kick off with singing, dancing in Markham

The Year of the Monkey got off to an early start Saturday at the Pan Am Centre in Markham, Ont., with live singing, dancing, and a 70-booth market selling food, flowers and traditional Chinese artworks.

There were also table tennis tournaments for kids.

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The biggest festival of the year for many people officially kicks off on Monday.

Festival organizers donated some of the proceeds to the YMCA in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as to the World Vision charity.