LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. city of Phoenix will host a three-day event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year with culture and cuisine beginning Friday.

The event, titled the 29th Annual Chinese Culture and Cuisine Festival, is expected to draw at least 30,000 people with some 80 vendors, 20 food and beer trucks, and cultural performances including dragon and lion dances, martial arts demonstrations and folk dances.

At the event venue, there will be a children's pavilion where kids can participate in hands-on activities including making lanterns, paper cutting and Chinese calligraphy, said Elaine Wong, president of the Phoenix Chinese Week (PCW), organizer of the event.

Wong said a mahjong booth, where the intense, historical Chinese game that uses 144 tiles will be taught and played, will also be set up, adding that the festival focuses on fun and family-oriented activities.

The main stage will feature all-day entertainment, including chopstick challenge, tai chi festival, art exhibitions and a raffle.

"We have a lot of very dedicated volunteers who work very hard to make this happen," said Wong, noting 100 volunteers have been mobilized for the event.

The PCW will also host a 10-course traditional Chinese banquet on Feb. 17 as part of its Year of the Pig celebration.