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HOUSTON, February 9, 2022 — Asia Society Texas celebrated the Year of the Tiger in the Center's first in-person Lunar New Year festival since 2020.

More than 2,400 guests visited the Center to ring in the new year on Saturday, February 5, with all-ages activities, performances, food, and special demonstrations inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia. Attendees created festive tiger hats, learned about the zodiac, played ddakji with the Korean American Society of Houston, made lanterns with the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association, and heard the story of the Jade Emperor with Houston Public Library. In addition to demonstrating traditional Chinese instruments, Huaxing Arts Group presented music and dance on our stage, including a special performance by a Peking Opera singer. Outdoors on our festival lawn, a lively crowd enjoyed energetic lion dances and a dragon dance by the Houston Shaolin Kung Fu Academy.

Visitors enjoyed free admission to new exhibition Making Home: Artists and Immigration, on view through July. Festival fare included a special menu by Java Lava Cafe featuring vegetable curry and tiger prawn salad, tea demonstrations by Green Roots, Japanese street food by Hako Bento Box Company, Thai bites by Kin Dee, Taiwanese boba and drinks by Magic Cup, Vietnamese fusion by Nom Mi Street, Cantonese fare by One Dim Sum, and fusion food by Wokker. 

The celebration continued with performances and activity kits at The Galleria on Sunday, where performing groups included Huaxing Arts Group, Houston Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, and Gamelan of the New Moon. Festivities resume this weekend, February 12–13, with additional performances by Dance of Asian America, Filipino Young Professionals of Houston, Sanggar Tari Citra Indonesia, and Changlu Wu.

Asia Society Texas' education department kicked off the new year festivities on Wednesday, February 2, partnering with Houston Public Library at Central Library’s Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza downtown and welcoming over 280 attendees with a festive lion dance, drum show, and wushu martial arts performance by Unity Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe. The event also featured a vocal performance from a Chinese opera singer, a bilingual storytime, and a handkerchief dance activity with kids. Asia Society Texas welcomed guests with crafts including papercutting tiger masks and origami, helped introduce attendees to their Chinese zodiac animal, and invited visitors of all ages to create a zodiac postcard with their new year wish. Amid the activities, guests enjoyed  food and drink from Magic Cup and Foreign Policy Food Truck.

The festivities concluded with outreach at various HISD elementary schools through the end of February, funded by the Arts Connect Houston Arts Action Fund.

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Press Coverage

8 Spectacular Lunar New Year Celebrations In Houston
Lunar New Year 2022: Here's where to celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Houston
Welcome to the Year of the Tiger. Here’s what we have to look forward to.
Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in the US
Americans greet the Year of the Tiger with a cautious roar
休斯敦华星艺术团与德州亚洲协会举办2022虎年新春嘉年华

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.