Traditional lion dances, mask changing artists, martial arts demonstrations will welcome Pasadenans to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens as it gears up to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Inspired by the Year of the Rabbit, Huntington has planned a weekend of “must-see” programs to mark the Lunar New Year on Feb 4-5.
“The Chinese New Year Festival is one of our largest events. We hope that all people will have a chance to enjoy some of China’s many arts—painting, calligraphy, music, opera, and more. We hope they will be amazed by kung fu practitioners and entertained by lion dancers. We hope they will savor our Chinese Garden,” curator of The Huntington’s Chinese Garden and director of the Center for East Asian Garden Studies, Phillip Bloom said.
Bloom added that the festival will feature “tasty Asian-inspired cuisine.”
“The Huntington’s on-site food establishments will feature tasty Asian-inspired cuisine. Guests can find items like house-made almond cookies, shrimp shumai, steamed buns, and Sichuan beef. We will also have food trucks serving up steamed and pan-fried Chinese cuisine, Korean corn dogs, and more.”
Vendors who will join the event include Coffee a Go Go, Dina’s Dumplings, Drizzle and more.
The Chinese New Year festivities at The Huntington will run from February 4-5, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Event highlights:
- Lion dancers by Northern Shaolim Kung Fu
- Mask changing (Bian Lian) by Wei Qi Zhong
- Martial arts performances by the Shaolin Temple Cultural Center USA
- Chinese Floral Arts Displays
- Calligraphy demonstrations by artist Tang Qingnian
- Chinese dining specials at the Red Car coffee shop, 1919 Cafe, and Jade Court Cafe
- Food trucks, including Dina’s Dumplings, The Tropic Truck, Pinch of Flavor, Ghostix, Coffee a Go Go, and Drizzle
The festivities will take place in and around The Huntington’s Chinese Garden and other performance spaces.
Bloom expressed hopes that through the festival, people will gain appreciation for the rich Chinese culture and be inspired to learn more about it on their own.
“Celebrating holidays like Lunar New Year can serve as an important encouragement to people to learn about cultures other than their own—cultures that may have a major presence in their community but that they may not have encountered in any significant way,” he said.
East West Bank is the sole corporate sponsor of The Huntington’s Chinese New Year Festival.
Bloom encouraged interested Pasadena residents to book the tickets in advance as they tend to sell out early.
Tickets will not be sold onsite.
To get tickets for the upcoming festival, visit: https://huntington.org/chinese-new-year-festival.
