| Photo by Troi Santos
NEW YORK – The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted its annual Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, January 25, 2025, celebrating the Year of the Snake with an immersive program. The event featured an exciting lineup of performances, art activities, and cultural showcases, bringing together visitors of all ages to honor Asian traditions and heritage.
The festivities began in the Great Hall with a traditional Lion Dance performed by the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead. Guests were also treated to performances in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, including a fan dance by the New York Korean Performing Arts Center, live music and dance from the Vietnam Heritage Center, and jazz reinterpretations of music from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand by the AAPI Jazz Collective, led by Peter Lin, in the Charles Engelhard Court.
Families and children enjoyed hands-on art activities throughout the museum. In Carson Family Hall East, visitors contributed to a collaborative paper chain snake representing the Year of the Snake or crafted their paper snakes to take home. At the Temple of Dendur, attendees designed wearable headbands and armcuffs inspired by Lee Bul’s sculptural works. In Gallery 209, guests practiced Chinese and Korean calligraphy with guided brushwork. Gallery 206 featured a community collage activity inspired by the “Colorful Korea” exhibition, encouraging participants to reflect on their heritage.
Interactive storytelling and expert talks further enriched the festival experience. Author Hanh Bui delighted families with readings of her books “The Yellow Áo Dài” and “Ánh’s New Word” in the Charles Engelhard Court. Experts Ariel Loh and Clae Lu offered insights into music and calligraphy in the André Mertens Galleries for Musical Instruments. Visitors also observed traditional handscroll techniques through live demonstrations in the Astor Court.
In addition, the Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall hosted the Community Culture Hub, where partner organizations such as Think! Chinatown, Lunar New Year For All, and the Asian Mental Health Collective shared resources and events celebrating community and cultural connections. Attendees captured memories at a festive photo booth on the Great Hall Balcony, while a pop-up shop by Yu and Me Books, a Chinatown bookstore, showcased literature focused on immigrant and community stories.
The Met ensured the event was inclusive and accessible, offering assistive listening devices, American Sign Language interpreters, and large-print or braille schedules. Quiet spaces were also available in select galleries for visitors seeking a break from the festivities.
The Lunar New Year Festival at The Met not only honored Asian traditions but highlighted the museum’s dedication to diversity, community engagement, and cultural appreciation. In Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape diaspora, the museum respectfully acknowledges the Indigenous community’s past, present, and future for their ongoing relationship with the region.
In honor of the Year of the Snake, the Museum presents a curated selection of works showcasing the cultural significance of the snake in Chinese history and art. Highlights include a 3,000-year-old bronze ritual vessel with a spout formed by intertwined snake heads, a 13th-century pottery figure of a playful, smiling snake, and an 18th-century finely painted porcelain cup depicting a scene from the Legend of the White Snake, a beloved folktale blending love and fantasy. This unique exhibition, Celebrating the Year of the Snake, will be on display through February 10, 2026.
For information about upcoming events, exhibitions, or ongoing programs at The Met, visit metmuseum.org.
