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CultureFest!

Lunar New Year

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Included with Museum Admission

Event Has Passed

Free for Members, PennCard holders, & Penn Medicine Patients & Staff

A lion dance on the Harrison Auditorium stage.

Ring in the Year of the Snake at our 44th annual Lunar New Year celebration. Bring the whole family to experience vibrant Asian traditions during a full day of festivities, including storytelling, art-making, live music and dance performances, and a traditional Lion Dance finale.

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Lunar New Year is observed by various Asian communities, including those of Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tibetan descent. The festivities traditionally commence with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and conclude 15 days later on the first full moon. Originating as a time for respite from agricultural work and togetherness with loved ones, Lunar New Year incorporates customs such as feasts, gift exchanges, lantern lighting, and offerings to deities and ancestors.

The 44th annual Lunar New Year celebration is presented in collaboration with the American Center for Asian Students, the National Association for Korean Schools Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

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A day of vibrant Asian traditions

  • A woman performing a ribbon dance.
  • A lion dance performance.
  • Close up of a traditional instrument being played.
  • A family making paper lanterns.
  • Two people from the audience participating in a performance.

Event Schedule

11–11:30 am Dotting the Eye Ceremony: Welcome remarks and the awakening of the lion
11:30 am–12:00 pm Traditional Chinese dance performance from Little Mulan Dance Troupe of the Great Wall Chinese School
12:30–1 pm Experience the electrifying energy of a K-pop performance from Drexel K-Pop Club and Penn K-Beats
1–1:30 pm Chinese traditional dance and music performances, including a Dunhuang ribbon dance by Vienna Dschung, a Suona performance by Professor Yazhi Guo, and a bian lian (face-changing) performance by Junli Zhang
2–2:20 pm Martial Arts and Tai Qi demonstration
2:30–2:45 pm Korean Fan Dance and traditional Marching Band performance by KSSNJ K-Arts Company
3–3:15 pm Lion Dance Finale
3:20–3:50 pm Panel discussion: Members of the American Center for Asian Students will explore the similarities and differences in Lunar New Year celebrations across cultures
10–4:00 pm Vendor Marketplace
All-day art-making activities
25-01-25