Ring in the Lunar New Year at the Hudson River Museum
Celebrate the Year of the Snake and ring in the Lunar New Year at one of our favorite family-friendly spots in Westchester! The Hudson River Museum is inviting families to its annual Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, February 1, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
This festival will include traditional music and dance performances, as well as hands-on workshops about Asian arts and crafts. Throughout the day, you can enjoy cultural demonstrations, tasty food samples, and activities for all ages. All performances and workshops are included with general admission, making this a great event for families to celebrate together.
What to Expect
The celebrations kick off at 11:30 pm with a traditional lion dance, followed by folk dances from China and a tai chi exhibition, accompanied by Indonesian gamelan music and a sogo-chum performance. Between 12–4 pm, families will have the opportunity to learn origami, calligraphy, and knitting from skilled instructors and can participate in Family Art Workshops featuring crafts like slithering snake paper designs and fú posters. At 2 pm, there will be a special presentation of The Sky Tonight: The Skylore of China, a planetarium show that highlights traditional Chinese star patterns.
Performances
Traditional Lion Dance at 11:30 am
Witness a lively lion dance to celebrate the Year of the Snake! Two lions will perform a captivating story with the festive sounds of drums, gongs, and cymbals.
Chinese Folk Dances and Tai Chi Fan at 1:00 pm
Enjoy an afternoon featuring Chinese classical and folk dances, along with a refined tai chi demonstration from the Greenburgh Evergreen Club. The performances will showcase the solo piece “Yang Guifei” by Yingli Wen, “Spring Outing” performed by Wen and her students, “Tuberose” by Ike Leong with his Latin dance students, and “Tai Chi Fan” by Dr. Jialing Shi and her students.
Indonesian Gamelan Music and Dance at 3:00 pm
Take in the beautiful sounds of Gamelan Dharma Swara as they perform traditional music for gamelan gender wayang, one of Bali’s oldest percussion groups. This Indonesian ensemble is famous for its performances in life-cycle rituals and entertainment. They will start with a traditional Balinese welcoming dance.
Korean Sogo-chum at 4:00 pm
The New York Korean Performing Arts Center will showcase an energetic sogo-chum, which is a traditional small drum dance. This dance, performed with a double-headed hand-held drum, is commonly seen at festivals, weddings, and community gatherings. Families are invited to attend the performance and take part in a Q&A session afterward with dancers Jiyoung Lee and Youngsil Um.
Workshops Available from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Origami, Calligraphy, and Knitting Workshops
Unleash your creativity in interactive workshops honoring the Year of the Snake. Esther Kho Uy from OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates will guide an origami class, while Ruiqi Li, an award-winning calligrapher, will demonstrate the art of Chinese calligraphy and create New Year couplets. Additionally, join Xiawen Wang from the Greenburgh Evergreen Club to learn how to knit an adorable Year of the Snake mascot.
Family Art Workshop: Slithering Snakes
For kids 5 and up, bring them out to make their own colorful paper snake using construction paper. This project will represent wisdom, change, and good luck, which are pillars of the celebration.
Family Art Workshop: Fú Posters (制作福字)
Ring in the Lunar New Year by designing your own fú (福) poster, a representation of blessings and good luck. With red paper, fú characters, zodiac stickers, and colorful markers, create a lively poster that will invite prosperity and joy into your home. This activity is suggested for children ages 4 and up.
Other HRM Offerings
Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda at 12:30 pm
Watch as the constellations narrate the tale of the stunning Andromeda, who faces punishment from the deities due to her mother’s boastfulness, destined to be a sacrifice for a sea creature and ultimately saved by Perseus. This show is great for children ages 8 and older; the performance lasts 25 minutes, followed by a question and answer session. Head to hrm.org to purchase your tickets today.
The Sky Tonight: The Skylore of China at 2:00 pm
Check out the fascinating world of Chinese sky culture in this special edition of The Sky Tonight. Learn about the twenty-four lunar houses of the Chinese Zodiac, which are different from the twelve constellations you may know. This event is for ages 8 and up and lasts for 60 minutes.
We Are Astronomers at 3:30 pm
Learn how astronomers communicate insights and respond to our inquiries about the cosmos. Narrated by David Tennant, known as the “Tenth Doctor” from the British science fiction series Doctor Who. Suggested for ages 8 and up: a 25-minute program followed by a Q&A session. Head to hrm.org to purchase your tickets today.
Gilded Age Glenview: Historic Home Tour at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Discover Glenview, a historic residence built in 1877 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designed by the renowned architect Charles W. Clinton, during a 45-minute guided tour. Each tour accommodates a maximum of 15 visitors and is suitable for visitors ages 8 and older. Please note that strollers are not allowed inside Glenview.
