From China’s thunderous Spring Festival to Vietnam’s Tết feast with lucky envelopes, the Lunar New Year roars across Asia in a symphony of names. In Korea, Seollal whispers traditions in silken hanbok, while Tibet chants Losar through fluttering prayer flags and yak butter lamps. Whatever the language, it’s a family feast for the soul, a kaleidoscope of cultures united under a new moon’s hopeful gaze.
The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle featuring the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, with each year also being assigned one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water). 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, combining the Snake’s attributes of wisdom and intuition with Wood’s characteristics of growth and flexibility.
As the calendar turns and the Year of the Snake approaches, Houston prepares to bring in the auspicious new year with dances and delicious food.
These celebrations take place in Houston’s Asiatown. Expect to see families celebrating their annual traditions. Bring cash to “feed” the lion during the lion dance performance or to spend in the Asian pop-up market at each new year festival. Performers from Dance of Asian America, Shaolin Kung Fu Academy and Huaxing Arts Group Houston make the rounds.
Chinese New Year on February 1, 2025. Lion dances, traditional performances, craft activities, Chinese calligraphy and food trucks. A Lodgeur favorite, this celebration is family focused with kids’ performances and carnival games. Parking is relatively easy.
Free Lunar New Year celebration on February 1 at Asia Society Texas with performances, crafts, and a Lucky Lunar Mission, plus optional Huaxing Arts Group theatrical shows ($12, members save 35%). Features food and activities highlighting Lunar New Year traditions from across Asia. 10am-4pm.
Guided culinary exploration of Houston’s Asiatown on January 26, starting at Dim Sum King, featuring cultural dining experiences and local Asian American history. $85. 2:30pm.
These celebrations attract a wider audience and are focused on families learning about Lunar New Year.
Radiant Nature through February 23, 2025. This enchanting light display weaves nature and technology, transforming the gardens into a kaleidoscope of glowing paths, twinkling trees, and mesmerizing projections.
Lunar New Year Bash on January 25, 2025, featuring lion dancers, Polynesian performances, and Year of the Snake activities including live snake encounters, while offering hands-on stations where children can create dragon puppets, lucky banners, and snake-themed crafts.
Space Center Houston is celebrating Lunar New Year on February 1-2, 2025, with events including traditional lion dances by Rising Dragon dance company, pop-up science labs, and special presentations from NASA astronaut Captain Michael Baker and lunar expert Dr. Gary Kitmacher. The two-day festival, included with general admission, combines cultural celebrations with space education, featuring hands-on experiments and presentations about NASA’s Artemis moon program.
Pearland Lunar New Year Festival is on February 16, 2025. offers lion and dragon dances, Chinese chess, calligraphy, traditional music, and modern additions like robotics and fencing at the Pearland Recreation Center. The free event runs from 11am to 4pm and features hands-on experiences such as balloon art, face painting, feng shui consultations, and a Chinese costume photo booth.
Free celebration at POST Houston featuring House of Ho’s Washington Ho and family, lion dances, cultural performances, Asian pop-up market, and traditional activities in Post’s international food hall. 11am-9pm.
So, grab your red envelopes and prepare to be dazzled. Lunar New Year Houston is not to be missed. If you’re still hungry after you leave, check out some of Lodgeur’s favorite Asian restaurants in Houston. And read our next blog post for more Houston events in February.