How to celebrate the Chinese New Year in San Antonio
Posted by Sarah W on January 18, 2013
Rugao Puppet Art #8 (Photo credit: chooyutshing)
Happy New Year! Again! The 2013 celebrations may be over, but there’s a whole other New Year just around the corner. The Chinese New Year spans February 10 through 24, and if you’re looking for fun ways to celebrate and learn about China’s most important holiday celebration, SABusyKids has got some ideas about how to celebrate the year of the snake:
Learn
Panda Express’ Learn with Me Program
Sign up for this free educational program, and learn the ins and outs of the Chinese New Year. Online registration is quick and easy, and materials will be available starting Monday, January 28. The 15 day New Year celebration gives you plenty of time to make your way through the Learn with Me Program, which includes: video, fact sheet, games, activity sheets, and Chinese New Year Decoration activities. Designed for 2nd through 4th graders, this program is ideal for the classroom, but also offers fun after-school enrichment.
Explore
The Institute of Texan Cultures invites families to this annual tradition, celebrating not only the Chinese New Year, but exploring Asian cultural traditions of all kinds. Your family can enjoy a taste of culture with cuisines from vendors offering authentic Asian-American foods from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Laos, the Philippines, and countless others.
Get a glimpse at the unique aspects of Asian culture through musical and cultural performances, fashion, crafts, and demonstrations. There will be three stages filled with performers, plus demonstrations of cooking, henna painting, and palm reading. Take your time enjoying the festival. They have craft tents with activities for kids to enjoy, while parents can enjoy an opportunity to shop the craft sales including clothing, artwork, dolls, silk items, and more. On top of all of that, you can get hands on and learn to play the Mahjong, or observe the art of Kamishibai, a type of storytelling that uses puppets and real-time illustrations.
The festival kicks off Saturday, February 16 at 10 a.m. and wraps up at 5 p.m., giving you a full day to celebrate the year of the snake and the multitude of cultures represented at the festival. The Asian Festival is an excellent way to appreciate the diversity we have right here in San Antonio. It’s a great way to introduce your family to different perspectives and traditions, without even leaving the city.
Tickets are available in advance at the ITC store or online for a discounted price. Adult tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate, and children’s tickets are $5. Children 5 and under get Free Admission for the Asian Festival.
San Antonio Museum of Art Celebrates the Year of the Snake
First Sunday for Families on February 3 is all about the Year of the Snake, featuring a special lion dance performance, art making workshops, and more! Free with museum admission, from 1pm – 5pm.
Get hands-on
There are endless crafts and activities available online to spice up your celebration of the Chinese New Year. These are just some to get you started:
Spoonful Chinese New Year Crafts
Activity Village Chinese New Year
What’s your favorite part of the Chinese New Year? Is it the food, the festivals, the chance for more family fun? Share in the comments below.
We used to live in Japan and I miss celebrating this. Thanks for letting me know how to celebrate locally!