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 

 
Yale-China AssociationEvent