Lunar New Year - At Museum of Fine Arts
*The event has already taken place on this date: Thu, 01/30/2025
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Special General Admission Pricing after 5 pm on January 30
Enjoy $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish general admission to MFA Boston during our Lunar New Year celebration (available in person day of, starting at 5 pm).
Events and Activities
Legacies of Chinese Empresses: A New Year Celebration
5–8:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with art by Xiang Li. Discover original silk paintings of Chinese empresses from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, along with exclusive previews of new works in progress.
Zenni Optical Vision Screenings
5–8:30 pm
Riley Seminar Room
Join us for a free vision screening with Zenni Optical, where you can grab exclusive Zenni swag, experience interactive VR demonstrations, and snap a fun keepsake at Zenni’s Ai SketchBot photo booth! Zenni Optical is dedicated to the belief that clear vision is a right, not a privilege, and is committed to providing high-quality eye care to everyone—especially the youngest members of our community.
Drop-In Art Making: Paper Cutting
5–9 pm (last entry 8:45 pm)
Druker Family Pavillion
Use scissors to transform red paper into beautifully cut designs, then hang in a window or over a doorway in your home to bring good luck and happiness in the new year. Activity created in consultation with multimedia artist Zhonghe (Elena) Li.
Vovinam Quang Trung Martial Arts
5:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Be dazzled by a traditional lion dance, presented by Vovinam Quang Trung Martial Arts.
Three in 30
5:30 and 7 pm
Meet in Sharf Visitor Center
Take a 30-minute tour exploring three objects in the MFA galleries that highlight and connect to Lunar New Year around the world.
Sebae and Hanbok Demo
6pm and 7pm
Gallery 250
Sebae is the Lunar New Year ritual in Korea of bowing to family elders, who then return verbal blessings of good luck in the coming year and sometimes give out envelopes full of money. Watch a sebae demonstration, then try on a hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. Hosted by members of the Korean Cultural Society of Boston.
The Art of Chinese Tea
5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 pm
Gallery 168
Join Broken Cup Teahouse to learn about the rich history and culture of Chinese tea! This presentation explores origins and traditions of tea in China, including a demonstration of the gongfucha (工夫茶) brewing style. Don’t miss this fun, informative, and interactive tea talk that highlights the artistry and elegance of an ancient tradition.
Spotlight Talk: Guanyin
5:45 (English-language tour) and 6:30 pm (Mandarin-language tour)
Gallery 274
Join Nancy Berliner, Wu Tung Senior Curator of Chinese Art, in the Chinese Song Dynasty Gallery for an introduction to an early 12th-century sculptural masterwork depicting the bodhisattva Guanyin. Learn about recent discoveries made while researching the artwork and learn more about its original context.
Spotlight Talk: Mahaprajapati with the Infant Buddha-To-Be
6 and 6:50 pm
Gallery 271
Hear from Dessi Vendova, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholar, Art of Asia, about a stunning 16th-century Ming dynasty fresco wall painting. The artwork depicts Mahaprajapati, the Buddha’s maternal aunt and stepmother, with the infant Buddha-to-be, Prince Siddhartha. Learn new insights into the Buddhist narrative scene portrayed in this remarkable piece.
S.T.A.R. Group Boston and Little S.T.A.R. Group
6 and 7 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Enjoy mesmerizing dance performances from S.T.A.R. Group and Little S.T.A.R. Group. Using the traditional Northern Vietnamese flat hats and colorful ribbons, the ensembles seamlessly blend tradition with innovation, and every one of their member’s graceful movements tell a tale of resilience, legacy, and harmony. Prepare for an extraordinary journey through the captivating lifestyles and rich cultural heritage of Northern Vietnam.
S.T.A.R. Group has a mission to inspire, motivate, educate, and enlighten audiences of all backgrounds who share a passion for Asian culture, especially Vietnamese culture. Through its captivating dance performances and engaging art workshops, the group bridges the gap between tradition and modernity, weaving tales that reflect the cultural richness and beauty of Vietnamese history.
Spotlight Talk: Moon Jar
7:15 (Korean-language tour) and 8 pm (English-language tour)
Gallery 179
Explore an exquisite moon jar from Korea’s Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) with Hee Jung Lee, director of MFA libraries. Originally crafted as functional vessels for food storage, moon jars transcended their utilitarian origins to become profound expressions of Korean cultural values—specifically simplicity, naturalness, and the beauty found in restraint. With its milky white glaze and perfectly imperfect spherical form, the MFA’s moon jar represents the pinnacle of Joseon aesthetic philosophy. Learn more about this object, and see how moon jars continue to inspire modern creators and connoisseurs alike.
Korean Traditional Music from Gipeun
7:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Enjoy a special performance of Korean traditional music by Gipeun (깊은). Highlighting the sounds of the ajaeng, a zither-like Korean string instrument, the ensemble presents traditional instrumental music and folk songs from the Gyeonggi (central) and Seodo (northern) regions, offering an emotional and captivating journey through the melodies of Korean tradition.
Gund Kwok
8 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
In 2025 we mark the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, good luck, prosperity, and fertility. To usher in the new year, Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe—the first all-Asian, all-female lion and dragon dance troupe in the United States—performs a celebratory and uniquely choreographed snake dance.
No Lunar New Year is complete without a lion dance to drive away everything undesirable and bring good luck and prosperity. This colorful and exciting performance features eight lions and showcases the skills of Gund Kwok’s adult and children lion dancers alike.
Dining Specials
Enjoy a two- or three-course prix fixe menu at New American Café inspired by Lunar New Year. Looking for a snack or drink? Taste is open until 9 pm on January 30. Learn more about dining at the MFA.
Wheelchair accessible
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.