From lion dance demos and hands-on crafts to festivals and library programs, uncover meaningful ways to learn about and celebrate Lunar New Year with kids in the DC metro area.
Lunar New Year celebrates the end of winter and the onset of Spring. According to the National Museum of Asian Art, “It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population.”
Whether you’re heading out to a local celebration or creating simple traditions at home, this guide will help your family explore Lunar New Year in ways that are engaging, age-appropriate, and rooted in cultural appreciation.
Notes: Make sure to click the links for the most up-to-date event info. No affiliate links have been added to this blog.
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In this blog...
Washington, DC Events
- [Just Added] Thursday (2/19) at 1:00 pm | Lunar New Year Webinar for grades 1-5 on Zoom
- In this webinar, students grade 1–5 discuss the entertainment, foods, and customs as we welcome the year of the horse. Due to our collections’ strengths, content focuses on the arts of China.
- [Just Added] Saturday (2/21) at 11:00 am | Year of the Horse Festival at GW Textile Museum
- Gallop into the Year of the Horse with performances, crafts and family-friendly activities as we open our new exhibition Adorning the Horse: Equestrian Textiles for Power and Prestige. Make crafts inspired by these beautiful animals and their adornments, enjoy traditional dance performances and complete a scavenger hunt in the galleries.
- Saturday (2/21) at 12:00 pm | Lunar New Year Festival at the National Museum of Asian Art and the Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building
- Experience cultural performances, lion dances, food, makers, and more! Plus, enjoy curator talks and tours at the museum throughout the day. Free pass required to enter the Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building!
- Sunday (2/22) at 2:00 pm | DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade
- Includes lion and dragon performances, music & marching bands + fireworks!
- Monday (2/23) at 11:00 am | 2026 Tết Fest at Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library in NW
- Includes a Buddhist blessing ceremony presented by the nuns of the Fairfax Giác Ngộ Temple, sampling of traditional Tết dishes, calligraphy workshop + storytime!
- Saturday (2/28) at 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | Art & Me | Family Workshop: New Year Animals at the National Museum of Asian Art (Best for ages 3-8)
- Craft animal artworks by arranging and attaching shapes, inspired by the techniques used in ancient China.
- [Just Added] Saturday (2/28) at 12:00 pm | FREE Lunar New Year Family Celebration at Hung Tao Choi Mei Leadership Institute in NW DC
- No registration required! Includes face paint, photo opportunities, kung fu movie screening, lion dance performances, kung fu demos & more.
Maryland Events
- Friday (2/20) at 12:00 pm | Chinese New Year Scratch Art Craft at sweetFrog Laurel
- Saturday (2/21) at 10:00 am | Lunar New Year Celebration at College Park City Hall
- This event will feature traditional music & dance, lion dancing, demonstrations, crafts for children, a book giveaway for children in attendance and more!
- Saturday (2/21) at 10:30 am | Lunar New Year 2026 at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
- Celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse with a New Year-themed storytime, sing-along, and craft!
- Saturday (2/21) at 12:30 pm | Lunar New Year Music Celebration at Kensington Park Library
- Traditional Chinese music concert from the Washington Guzheng Society. The Guzheng is one of many types of a traditional zither – a plucked string instrument with rich harmonies.
- Saturday (2/21) at 1:00 pm | Lunar New Year Celebration at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville
- Saturday (2/21) at 3:00 pm | Celebrate Lunar New Year at White Oak Library
- Drop in to celebrate the Lunar New Year with crafts and other activities!
- Saturday (2/28) at 10:30 am | Lunar New Year Family Storytime at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for ages 0-5)
- Special Lunar New Year storytime with themed craft to follow.
- Saturday (2/28) at 11:00 am | Celebrate Lunar New Year at Westfield Montgomery
- Experience lion and dragon dances, art demos and more by our community partners from the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC). Plus, enjoy live music with traditional Chinese instruments and vocal performances.
- Saturday (2/28) at 4:00 pm | Celebrate Lunar New Year with Li-Ming Chinese Academy! at Wheaton Library
- Highlights of the event include a Lion Dance, a Shadow Puppet Show, demonstrations of Tai Chi, and an exciting yo-yo performance.
Northern Virginia Events
- Friday (2/6) – Saturday (2/28) | Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse at Del Ray Artisans Gallery in Alexandria
- Representing courage, vitality, speed, and independence, the horse inspires artworks that capture energy, movement, mythology, and heritage. This exhibition also reflects Del Ray Artisans’ commitment to cultural sensitivity, showcasing works that honor the origins of the Lunar New Year with respect and authenticity.
- Tuesday (2/17) at 3:30 pm | Crafty Kids: Tuesday Paper Crafts for Lunar New Year at Glencarlyn Library in Arlington
- Tuesday (2/17) at 4:00 pm | Lunar New Year Block Printing Workshop at Del Ray Artisans in Alexandria ($)
- Participants will design and carve soft foam printing plates inspired by zodiac horse imagery and celestial constellations, then ink and hand-print their designs using brayers and water-based inks.
- Wednesday (2/18) at 7:00 pm | Tiny Lunar New Year Alters Workshop at Del Ray Artisans in Alexandria ($) (Best for teens & adults)
- A tiny Lunar New Year altar is a miniature, personal space for honoring ancestors, setting intentions, and welcoming prosperity, using small items like beads to represent symbolic fruits, red lanterns, gold ornaments, crystals, family photos, flowers, and zodiac figurines all fitting in a tin can.
- Thursday (2/19) at 5:00 pm | Celebrate Lunar New Year at Central Place Plaza in Rosslyn
- Includes community vendors, Lion Dance, photo souvenir & wishing wall
- Saturday (2/21) at 6:00 pm | Lunar New Year Celebration at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton ($)
- Includes spectacular live performances of martial arts, dance, and music, interactive cultural games & samples of asian dishes + more!
- Sunday (2/22) at 10:00 am | Laurel Burch Inspired Horses Workshop at Del Ray Artisans ($) (Best for ages 7-12, teens & adults)
- Family friendly workshop where participants will create a stylized horse artwork using bold color, repeated patterns, strong outlines, and metallic accents.
Places in DC to Explore Asian Culture (All Year)
Lunar New Year celebrations last a few weeks every January/February, but families in the DC metro area can explore Asian art, history, and culture all year long at the following locations:
National Museum of Asian Art on the National Mall in SW DC
Explore art and culture through storytelling, rotating exhibits and family events. Open daily & free!Chinese American Museum in NW DC
Immerse yourself in stories of Chinese American history, immigration, and community contributions in the United States. Open Wednesdays – Saturdays & free!Smithsonian’s National Zoo in NW DC
Visit the Asia Trail to learn about animals native to the continent and conservation efforts. You can meet the pandas before visiting and also learn about what their names mean in Chinese. Open daily & free!
At Home Learning
There are many ways to celebrate Lunar New Year right at home among family. Activities and books can spark curiosity, build cultural awareness, and create special family bonding moments.
PBS KIDS Resources
My go-to resource for learning about any holiday with kids is PBS KIDS. Whether you need short, engaging clips, at-home activities or book recommendations they tend to have some sort of reliable resource to lean into!
For Lunar New Year, I recommend:
PBS Learning Media – Chinese New Year
Learn about the origin of the holiday and how people have traditionally celebrated Lunar New Year with this short video.Celebrating Lunar New Year – Parents Resource
PBS KIDS for Parents offers activity suggestions and book recommendations to help parents/caregivers prep for celebrating Lunar New Year with kids.
Recommended Books
We actually have a couple of Lunar New Year books within our collection! Find these recommendations through the publisher’s link or your local library:
- Alex’s Good Fortune by Benson Shum
- Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year! by Michelle W. Park
- Happy Chinese New Year! A Festive Counting Story by Jannie Ho
Lunar New Year is just one of many meaningful celebrations you can explore within your own backyard in the DMV. As the season continues, be sure to check out our Winter Activities Hub for even more ideas including museum guides, seasonal celebrations, and engaging ways to keep kids learning and connected during the colder months. I’ll continue updating this blog as we explore new landmarks and as new resources become available, so stay tuned!
