Come welcome the Year of the Snake at the Peabody Essex Museum on February 15 with a vibrant festival heralding new beginnings and the coming of spring! Enjoy a scavenger hunt, art making and guided tours of Yin Yu Tang.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. While some traditions are shared across countries, others are unique to one region, community or national cultural identity. Our programming this year focuses on Chinese cultural traditions.
Drop-In Art Making: Decorating Red Envelopes
1–4 pm
East India Marine Hall
Decorate your own red envelope, a symbol of luck and prosperity in Chinese culture. Suitable for all ages.
Dragon Quest
1–5 pm | Ground Level, Level 2 and Level 3
Explore all three levels of the museum on the hunt for dragons and snakes! Claim your prize in the Garden Atrium. Suitable for all ages.
Outdoor Dance Performance | Gund Kwok: Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe
1:15–1:45 pm
Essex Street in front of the museum’s Main Entrance
Experience the energy and grace of Gund Kwok, the first all-Asian women’s Lion and Dragon Dance troupe in the U.S. Stick around after the performance for a chance to interact with the performers and meet their dragons up close!
In the event of rain or inclement weather, the dragons will greet visitors inside the Main Atrium and roam throughout the museum instead.
Self-Guided Tours | Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home
1:15–4:15 pm; Every 30 minutes
Reservations required. Limited same-day tickets available at the Information desk beginning at 1 pm.
Yin Yu Tang — translated as “Hall of Plentiful Shelter” — was home to the Huang family for nearly two hundred years. For over 20 years, Yin Yu Tang has been a gateway into understanding the art and culture of generations of families living and working in rural Southeastern China.
Yin Yu Tang is currently undergoing work to preserve its roof tiles and masonry walls. During your visit, scaffolding may be present and work may be actively underway. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
For complete information visit https://www.pem.org/events/lunar-new-year-festival-year-of-the-snake
