The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced on Thursday its schedule of a weekend of events celebrating the 2016 Chinese New Year.

The events will be held between Feb 5 and Feb 8, 2016, including a family day, free millennium stage performances and performances by the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center said in a statement.

The weekend of events will be the first in an annual series of events celebrating Chinese New Year at the Kennedy Center, the statement added.

"The Kennedy Center has a long history presenting Chinese artists on our stages in all disciplines," said Alicia Adams, Vice President of International Programming at the Kennedy Center.

"The Chinese New Year Celebration at the Kennedy Center gives us the opportunity to present annually some of China's most established artists, as well as its rising stars," said Adams.

The upcoming 2016 Chinese New Year celebrates the "Year of the Monkey," which lasts from Feb. 8, 2016 till Jan. 27, 2017.