Lunarfest | February 17 | 10 am – 5 pm

Lunarfest is a day-long event offering arts and cultural programs for adults and children of all ages in celebration of the Lunar New Year, kicking off with the Lion Dance down Whitney Avenue! This year, the theme of the festival is “People-to-People.”

People-to-People reflects a spirit of cross-cultural dialogue, specifically between the American and Chinese cultures. People-to-People also underscores the commonality of all people. Regardless of an individual’s culture, there are innate aspects of the human experience that connect us all around the world–humor, food, art, music, literature. This year’s festival will focus on promoting what brings us together—people-to-people.

About Lunarfest

Lunarfest kicks off at 10 am with a traditional lion dance on Whitney Avenue between Grove Street and Trumbull Street. Celebrate alongside the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute’s lion dance troupe as they bring good luck and prosperity to New Haven merchants and community members. Keep on the look out for a special performance by local performers at the intersection of Whitney and Audubon Street.

Between 1:00-5:00 pm, join us for a series of Chinese arts and culture workshops, talks, and demonstrations, including:

• opera
• music
• exhibits
• dances
• painting
• calligraphy
• arts & crafts
• and many more!

The dog is one of twelve designated animals celebrated in the Chinese culture based on the lunar calendar. The Year of the Dog begins February 16, 2018 and will end on February 4, 2019.

The venue locations for Lunarfest are: Henry R. Luce Hall at Yale University (34 Hillhouse Avenue), New Haven Museum (114 Whitney Avenue), and Yale-China Association (442 Temple Street). All events are free and open to the public. All events are first come, first served.

Visit the event website for more information.