Asia Society Texas Celebrates the Year of the Snake With Record-Breaking Lunar New Year Festival
View more photos on Flickr: Lunar New Year at Asia Society Texas and at The Galleria.
HOUSTON, February 5, 2025 — Asia Society Texas (AST) welcomed a record 5,000 guests to ring in the Year of the Snake through all-ages activities, performances, food, and shopping at its annual Lunar New Year festival on Saturday, February 1. Marking AST's 12th annual Lunar New Year event since the Center opened, the festival celebrated traditions across Asia, including Vietnam, China, and South Korea.
Embarking on a Lucky Lunar Mission highlighting AST's community partners, guests contributed to a community art scroll with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, made snake puppets with Houston Public Library, learned about traditional Chinese clothing with Houston Hanfu Association, played games with Korean-American Society of Houston, created snakey plates with AST's interns, and explored the exhibition Space City: Art in the Age of Artemis. Upon completing their mission, attendees played bầu cua cá cọp, a lively Vietnamese game of chance. Guests also enjoyed an intricate photo booth styled with Vietnamese greetings and live flowers, created by Saigon Arts with flowers donated by C&T Produce Wholesale, and an interactive photo opportunity with performers wearing traditional outfits from the Han and Qing Dynasties, presented by longtime partner Huaxing Arts Group, who also shared Chinese calligraphy traditions.
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Festival performances included three sold-out showtimes of Chinese music and dance presented by Huaxing Arts Group inside the theater and two energetic lion dances by Houston Shaolin Kung Fu Academy and Vien Thong Tu Lion Dance on the front lawn. Throughout the Center and the lawn, the festival also featured a robust market of food and shopping through almost 20 Houston-based Asian- and Asian American-operated small businesses.
For the seventh year, Asia Society Texas hosted a Lunar New Year art contest, with 1,700 students participating in workshops led by a teaching artist throughout January and the winning art displayed at the festival. Participating schools included Ed White Elementary School, FLUX School of Art, Kolter Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, Petrosky Elementary School, Shadow Oaks Elementary School, and The School at George Place.
The festivities continued Sunday with activities and performances at The Galleria, where performing groups included Huaxing Arts Group, Dance of Asian America, and Shaolin Kung Fu Academy. The celebration resumes this weekend, February 8–9, with additional performances at The Galleria by SalaRu Sri Lankan Cultural Academy, Filipino Young Professionals, Han Narea, Three Roses, and Shaolin Kung Fu Academy.
AST's Lunar New Year festival was made possible with generous support from Janae and Ken Tsai and Huaxing Arts Group.
Offsite, AST's education department celebrated Lunar New Year with workshops at Oak Forest Elementary School, Petrosky Elementary School, Ed White Elementary School, and Texas Medical Center. Workshops at Ed White Elementary School were funded by the Arts Action Fund @ Arts Connect Houston.
View more photos on Flickr: Lunar New Year at Asia Society Texas and at The Galleria.
Press Coverage
Lunar New Year ushers in the 'Year of the Snake.' Here's what the snake symbolizes. Houston Chronicle, January 27, 2025.
Lion dances and lanterns light up Houston's Lunar New Year. KHOU 11, January 29, 2025.
Asia Society Texas to hold Lunar New Year festivities. CW39, January 29, 2025.
Best Bets: Lunar New Year, Adrienne Warren, and Sugarcane. Houston Press, January 30, 2025.
About Lunar New Year at Asia Society Texas
Featuring music and dance performances as well as zodiac-inspired activities, our annual festival celebrates Lunar New Year traditions from across Asia. Free and open to the public, the all-ages event is one of Asia Society Texas' most popular programs, drawing 2,000–4,000 guests each year.
Previous Lunar New Year Festivals
2024: Highlights | Details
2023: Highlights | Details
2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Virtual Festival
2020: Highlights | Details
2019: Highlights | Details
2018: Highlights | Details
2017: Details
2016: Details
2015: Details
2014: Details
More From Lunar New Year 2025
About Asia Society Texas
Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.
