Location:114 Whitney Avenue

Tai chi & Wushu Performance and Class with Shifu Shirley and Master Jack, 12:30 pm-2:00 pm, Ballroom

New Haven Museum and New England Asian American Cultural Center are hosting a showcase featuring Kung Fu and Tai Chi demonstrations by Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy and Aiping Tai Chi, as well as mini-classes for attendees.

Tai Chi at 12:30 pm-1:15 pm

Wushu at 1:15 pm-2:00 pm

Traditional and Modern Chinese Dance Performance by Lorelei Chang, 2:15 pm-2:45 pm, Ballroom

Movement Medicine
Improviser and performer: Lorelei Chang
Narrator: Nini Melvin
Musician: Joseph Getter

Come celebrate the Chinese New Year with Lorelei Chang, Dancer, choreographer, calligrapher and Qigong teacher. This solo performance along with narrative speaker, Nini Melvin, is based on the Chinese Five Elements philosophy that nature is interwoven with our body’s rhythms. Moving these energies through us is healing medicine. Lorelei co-creates the Movement Medicine piece with her beloved Shiatsu teacher and healer, Nini, specially for this Lunar Festival with dance, spoken word, and incredible live music with Joseph Getter. This improvisational experience will involve audience participation, and take you on a journey from the Oneness of the universe through the Five elemental phases of the seasons. Please join us!

Bios
Lorelei Chang: Lorelei Chang is renowned modern dance artist and was one of the first pioneers when modern dance was introduced to China in 1987. She is also a Qigong teacher, and a Chinese calligrapher who has dedicated her life time to study these disciplines for nearly 40 years. For more details of Lorelei’s bio, please visit her website: https://www.dancenlight.org/company/

Nini Melvin: Nini Melvin created HUMANATURE, combining Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu (Japanese), Qigong and Dance. She trains teachers and practitioners internationally, locally and online. Nini has had a private practice for more than 4 decades, and has a master's degree in Dance. Ninimelvin.com

Joseph Getter: Joseph Getter is a creative world musician, performing and teaching Indian classical music, kirtan, Javanese gamelan, sound journeys, and music for yoga, theater, film, dance, and the circus arts. Joseph studied Ethnomusicology at Wesleyan, and accompanies modern dance and ballet there and at Educational Center for the Arts. Web: josephgetter.com

Workshop with Eli Whitney Museum Apprentices, 2:45 pm-3:30 pm, Ballroom

Participate in this hands-on workshop led by Eli Whitney Museum apprentices and create a dragon automaton or rolling dragon egg.

Papercutting Workshop, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm, Clement Room

Create your own traditional papercut to bring good luck to your house in the Year of the Dragon with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas High School Fellows.

Wishing Tree, 12:30 pm -3:30 pm, Rotunda

Join in this Lunar New Year tradition and hang your wishes for the New Year on New Haven’s own wishing tree.

“Year of the Dragon” Concert with New Haven Symphony Orchestra featuring Dr. Chia-Yu Joy Lu, 12:30 pm-1:30 pm

Perfect for ages 3-7, this free family concert will feature the violin, piano, and traditional Chinese erhu. The program encourages listening, playfulness, and participation throughout the interactive performance. The concert’s music will include Two Tigers, Thunder in a Drought, Joy & Happiness, Grasshopper Tricks the Rooster, Beautiful Flowers and Full Moon, and more

Shadow Puppet Show and Workshop, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

Come make a dragon puppet in celebration of the Year of the Dragon and watch a shadow puppet show! In collaboration with OompaPossum Puppets artistic director, Kimberly Van Aelst.

Dinosaurs and Dragons with the Peabody Museum, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

Did you know some of the mythology around dragons may have come from dinosaur fossils? Come learn more about dinosaurs through crafts and activities from the Yale Peabody Museum!

Eli Whitney Museum Take and Make Kits, All Branches

Get your Eli Whitney take and make kit today! Make your own moving dragon to ring in the year of the dragon. Assembly instructions available online here or download here.

Location: 421 Temple Street

Community Year of the Dragon Art Project with local artist Kaitlin Tan Fung, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm

Participate in our community dragon sculpture to bring good luck to the Elm City!

Calligraphy with Association of Chinese Students and Scholars (ACSSY), 1:00 pm-2:30 pm

Learn more about calligraphy and create your own Lunar New Year decorations to bring good fortune to your home with ACSSY.

Location: 105 Whitney Avenue

Year of the Dragon Jam: Open Mic, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Join us for an afternoon of talented local performances as we celebrate the Year of the Dragon! Whether you just want to watch or decide to get up and perform a poem, a song, a monolog, or other, it’s sure to be a celebration! Multi-lingual art strongly encouraged!

Featuring performances by local author, poet, and activist Sun Queen and local writer, actress, and costume designer Leana Hoang.

1:15pm-1:30pm (Open Mic Sign-up)
1:30pm- 3:00pm (Open Mic)

Pre-register for the open mic here.

Join Jessica Durdock Moreno, Playwright and Teaching Artist from LWT, for a welcoming, fun introductory writing workshop on February 15. Jessica will help you bring your idea for a story, poem, or monologue to life. Register for the online workshop here.

Co-hosted with Long Wharf Theatre

Location: 100 Audubon Street

Dragon Artist Market, 11:00 am-3:00 pm

Shop from local, AAPI artists and makers at the first ever Lunar New Year Dragon Market!

Learn more here.

This year’s artists and makers include: Alec Black; Divine Zine; BeWare Designs; Chew—Chew; yarnshaper; Creations by AC; Soumya Garg; Gawa LLC; Joyce Li’s Paintings; and Beacon Craft Studio.

Co-sponsored by Town Green District and aapiNHV

Location: 80 Audubon Street

Arts & Crafts with Yale Repertory Theatre: Secret Messages, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Create your own secret messages and watch them come to life during an arts & crafts hour hosted by Yale Repertory Theatre and inspired by the upcoming production of The Far Country by Lloyd Suh.

Movable Dragon Puppets Workshop, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

Create a dancing dragon puppet with the Yale-China Chinese Teaching Fellows to ring in the Year of the Dragon.

Location: 55 Whitney Avenue

Lunar New Year Swag Pickup, 10:30 am-12:00 pm

Get your swag to ring in the Year of the Dragon at Affinity.

Mention the Lunarfest Parade to receive the following discounts on Saturday February 24, 2024.

Affinity Credit Union, 55 Whitney Avenue - Free giveaways during the parade

Choupette Creperie & Cafe, 24B Whitney Avenue - Free lemonade or orange juice with the purchase of a crepe

Connex Credit Union, 2 Whitney Avenue – visit our vendor table at Connex on February 24, each account opened will receive a gift bag and entry for a chance to win a $50 gift card

Cristhian Shoe Repair, 2 Whitney Avenue - 10% Off Cleaning: shoes, boots, handbags from February 24 through February 29

Good Nature Market, 44 Whitney Avenue - 10% Off

Katalina's Bakery, 74 Whitney Avenue - Special Lunarfest treats on sale on February 24

Kennedy & Perkins Opticians, 80 Whitney Avenue - 20% Off frame & RX Lenses *no other discount or insurance; 20% Off non-prescription sunglasses

MINIPNG, 77 Audubon Street - 15% Off storewide

Phil's Hair and Spa on Audubon, 71 Audubon Street - 10% Off products; 10% Off haircuts on February 24th

Pokemoto on Audubon, 99 Audubon Street - 10% Off

Walker Loden, 258 Church Street - 20% Off all jewelry

Willoughby's Coffee & Tea, 258 Church Street - Purchase any specialty coffee or tea drink and get one free (not valid on bottled drinks)