Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Garden

Saturday, February 21, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Bring the whole family to enjoy this special day filled with free programs celebrating the Year of the Sheep.

Chinese Shadow Puppet Performances,
11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Drop-in Programs, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Regular parking fees apply. For easier entry, purchase your parking in advance.

Performances
Be entertained by the Shaanxi Folk Arts Group from China’s Shaanxi Province’s capital city, Xi’an—the “cradle of Chinese culture,” the start of the Silk Road, and the origin of shadow puppetry. The group includes professional puppet performers and shadow puppets; craftsmen of string puppets, embroidery, and paper cutting; and one of China’s leading experts in puppet making. Professional puppet and shadow puppet performers will use ancient shadow puppetry techniques to bring classic Chinese tales to life based on Chinese folklore, including The Crane and the Turtle, The Bear and the Flowers, as well as some dramatic episodes from Journey to the West. The colorful puppets, music, and liveliness of the stage presentations have delighted audiences young and old, including both those familiar with and new to the various popular folktales.

Activities
Enjoy hands-on, interactive activities for all ages. Learn how to cut paper in the shape of animals, flowers, and figures using ancient Chinese techniques; draw traditional Chinese paintings; discover how the intricate puppets are made and decorated; and have your photo taken with the puppets.

While you are here…
While enjoying the Chinese New Year celebration, seek respite from the cold in the Orchid Show, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (fee applies; discounted tickets for Garden members). See stunning displays of more than 10,000 blooms, which will fill the Greenhouses and exhibition spaces of the Regenstein Center with exotic fragrance and vibrant colors of yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and blue.

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