14th Annual Lunarfest Celebrates the Year of the Snake
Contact:
arts@yalechina.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2025 January 15
New Haven, Conn. – The Yale-China Association, in partnership with New Haven Museum, Town Green District, Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven Free Public Library, and others, is proud to present the 14th annual Lunarfest in New Haven, Connecticut, on Saturday, February 1st, 2025. Lunarfest, the largest celebration of Lunar New Year in Connecticut, is one of New Haven’s premiere cultural events, promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding while embracing community collaborations.
Lunarfest 2025 celebrates the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac. The Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Lion Dance Team from New York City will start the day’s festivities at 10 am with a parade down Whitney Avenue between Grove and Trumbull Streets. Featured performances include martial arts demonstrations by Yale Club Wushu and the students from Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy. Following speeches from local community leaders including Mayor Justin Elicker, the parade culminates with a traditional lion pole dance in front of Hong Kong Market.
In the afternoon, the celebration continues with educational activities, workshops, and performances hosted at several locations in downtown New Haven (the New Haven Museum, New Haven Free Public Library Ives Branch, Neighborhood Music School, The Giggling Pig Art and Party Studio, and the Creative Arts Workshop) and on Yale’s campus (Yale Peabody Museum, Office of International Students & Scholars, and Luce Hall).
Highlighted events for the Year of the Snake include:
Lunarfest Artist Market co-sponsored by Town Green District featuring local AAPI artists and makers at the Neighborhood Music School from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
The Fairy Serpent shadow puppet show by OompaPossum Puppets at the New Haven Free Public Library at 2:00 pm, with games and craft activities for kids before and after the show.
A Wishing Tree, demonstrations and workshops by AiPing Tai Chi and Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy, as well as a Lunar New Year wooden kit workshop led by the Eli Whitney Museum apprentices at the New Haven Museum from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Performances by the New Haven Chinese Cultural Cooperative and Red Lantern Dance and other activities at the Peabody Musuem from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.
Chinese Medicine on the Move: A symposium on traditional Chinese medicine in the U.S. at Luce Hall on Hillhouse Avenue from 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm.
Zodiac Scavenger Hunt before and during the parade sponsored by The Shops at Yale’s Whitney-Audubon Retail & Arts District.
All programs are free and open to the public through the generous support of our venue partners, parade sponsors, and local businesses.
Bring your families! Bring your friends! Bring your festive spirit!
Join us in welcoming the Year of the Snake!
Lunarfest Program details and schedule may be found at: www.yalechina.org/lunarfest.
Yale-China Association (雅礼协会) bridges the United States and China through collaborative partnerships in education, healthcare, and the arts. For more information, visit www.yalechina.org.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Funders
International Association of New Haven
Yale University
Neighborhood Music School
Yale Office of International Students & Scholars
aapiNHV
Asian Network @ Yale
Cristhian Shoe Repair
Katahdin Furniture
MINIPNG
Pokemoto on Audubon
Walker Loden
Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy
New Alliance Foundation
Creative Arts Workshop
Market New Haven
Whitney-Audubon Retail & Arts District
Affinity Federal Credit Union
Arts Council of Greater New Haven
Eli Whitney Museum
Katalina’s Bakery
New Haven Chinese Cultural Cooperative
The Giggling Pig Art & Party Studio
Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon And Lion Dance Team
Yale Red Lantern
Yale Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Hong Kong Market
New Haven Free Public Library
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Aiping Tai Chi
Connex Credit Union
Good Nature Market
Kennedy & Perkins Opticians
OompaPossum Puppets
Via Lactea
Willoughby's Coffee & Tea
Yale Wushu Club