The primary new moon of 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29, marking the beginning of the Lunar New 12 months per the lunisolar Chinese language calendar. Tens of millions around the globe will probably be celebrating the 12 months of the Snake — one of many 12 Chinese language zodiac animals that signifies appeal, transformation, intelligence, and creativity, however can be related to thriller, independence, and cautiousness. There are a number of methods to acknowledge the Lunar New 12 months because it’s one of the vital auspicious holidays noticed internationally. Even children throughout New York State get to benefit from the time off because it falls on a weekday eventually!
Under is a listing of art-oriented occasions to ring within the 12 months of the Snake in all 5 boroughs for this weekend and the subsequent.
Metropolitan Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Artwork (metmuseum.org), 1000 Fifth Avenue, Higher East Facet, Manhattan
January 25, 12–5pm

The Metropolitan Museum of Artwork is internet hosting its annual Lunar New 12 months celebration with an entire day of occasions on Saturday, January 25. Free with admission with no registration required, The Met’s celebration kicks off at midday with a lion dance by the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute adopted by a efficiency on Lunar New 12 months traditions by the Sesame Road Muppeteers that includes Alan Muraoka, and quite a lot of craft and calligraphy workshops, demonstrations, and alternatives to attach with community-based organizations. The Chinatown bookstore Yu & Me Books can even have a pop-up store at The Met specializing in native and immigrant tales.
Along with the occasion, the museum has put collectively a small exhibition of objects from its collections (together with the above plaque) known as Celebrating the 12 months of the Snake, now on view in Gallery 207 by way of February 10.
Assume!Chinatown
Assume!Chinatown (thinkchinatown.org), 1 Pike Road, Chinatown, Manhattan
January 25–February 16

The native nonprofit Assume!Chinatown (T!C) hosts a slew of LNY-related occasions with craft and group in thoughts yearly — together with a go to to The Met’s personal celebration. On Sunday, January 26, T!C resident artist and educator Ling Tang will host back-to-back workshops on the standard Chinese language observe of ornamental paper-cutting for each newbies and creators with some expertise within the group’s studio area. Different occasions celebrating the brand new yr embrace T!C’s lantern reveal in the course of the January 29 festivities on Mott Road, a go to to a teahouse, a rice cake making workshop, and a Mahjong get together.
Cosy Harbor Cultural Middle & Botanical Backyard
Cosy Harbor Cultural Middle & Botanical Backyard (snug-harbor.org), 1000 Richmond Terrace, Randall Manor, Staten Island
January 25, 11:30am–4pm

For associates and households based mostly in Staten Island, the Cosy Harbor Cultural Middle & Botanical Backyard is internet hosting its annual Lunar New 12 months celebration on Saturday, rife with storytelling, treats, crafts and calligraphy, and hand puppet performances together with puppet-making workshops onsite. Attendees have been requested to put on pink and gold for an auspicious begin to the 12 months of the Snake!
Wave Hill
Wave Hill Public Backyard & Cultural Middle (wavehill.org), 4900 Independence Ave, Riverdale, The Bronx
January 25 and 26, 10am–1pm

On each Saturday and Sunday, guests to Wave Hill within the Bronx can work on adorning and assembling a hand fan impressed by the 12 months of the Snake after studying in regards to the significance of the Chinese language zodiac animals collectively. This workshop is free with an admission ticket to Wave Hill, and a holiday-inspired storytelling program will happen at 11:30am on each days on the Gund Theater onsite.
Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum (brooklynmuseum.org), 200 Jap Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
January 26, 12:45pm–4pm

The Brooklyn Museum has partnered with Cool Tradition and the Chinese language Freemasons Athletic Membership for a performance-based Lunar New 12 months celebration along side its ongoing Weekend Artwork Hangs this coming Sunday. Along with the watching the lion dance and assembly the performers, attendees can take part in a museum-wide bingo sport and a paper snake artwork workshop.
South Road Seaport Museum
South Road Seaport Museum (southstreetseaportmuseum.org), 12 Fulton Road, Monetary District, Manhattan
February 1, 11am–5pm

Taking part within the neighborhood’s annual Lunar New 12 months celebration, the South Road Seaport Museum has partnered with the New York Chinese language Cultural Middle to not solely supply free normal admission on Saturday, February 1, however host two workshops in Chinese language calligraphy and paper lion chains. The nautical affect on the paper lion chain crafts come from the sign flags sailors would use to convey messages to one another from a distance at sea. Each workshops are free, however an RSVP is really helpful to save lots of your seat.
Queens Museum
Queens Museum (queensmuseum.org), Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
February 2, 1–4pm

The Queens Museum’s schooling staff and visible and performing artists from the New York Chinese language Cultural Middle come collectively to current a Lunar New 12 months celebration stuffed with conventional dance performances, calligraphy and brush portray workshops, and a snake-themed crafts workshop for all ages and skill-levels to usher in a yr of prosperity and transformation. The museum notes that this can be a extremely popular occasion with no required registration, so you should definitely come early and safe your seat!
Land to Sea
Land to Sea (landtoseanyc.com), 402 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
February 1 and a pair of, 10am–4pm

Final however not least … What could possibly be higher than supporting an area Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artist or inventive small enterprise within the 12 months of the Snake? The Asian- and women-owned Brooklyn cafe Land to Sea will turn into an artwork market on the weekend of February 1, with a number of impartial distributors promoting glass and beaded jewellery, ceramics, risograph prints, small artwork books, stationery, and different ornamental wares on your house and self.