Kennedy Center Kicks Off Lunar New Year Celebration

WASHINGTON, DC -- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts kicks off its fifth annual Lunar New Year Celebration Wednesday evening with festivities that highlight the way communities in China, Asia and around the world observe the holiday.

This year's festival has been expanded to two weeks of special events, including a ticketed concert by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, the Kennedy Center Chinese New Year Family Day, and a performance by the Beijing Bamboo Orchestra. Also, for the first time, the newly opened REACH outdoor activity space will be filled with Winter Lanterns and activities for the whole family.

"We decided to celebrate in a way that a lot of these countries also celebrate with the Winter Lantern," said Gilda Almeida, director of International Programming at the Kennedy Center. "We thought it would be a good way to activate the REACH in the winter time and again offer to our audiences all free events. So, you can come to a performance at the Kennedy Center and after the performance you can go outside and the enjoy the REACH. We have heating lamps, picnic tables, and food trucks, trying to make the REACH a destination in the evenings during the winter time."

Approximately 100 Winter Lanterns crafted by Chinese artisans and made of 10,000 colored LED lights will adorn the REACH throughout the festival. The display will focus on Chinese tradition and nature, with one four-piece installation offering the "Four Symbols" of Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise from Chinese mythology. Other lanterns will include the Zodiac Signs, Panda Grove and Mushroom Garden.

The Lunar New Year Celebration will not just be about observing performances or beautiful lanterns. There will be hands-on, family-friendly activities to enjoy as well.

"We started the weekend Lunar New Year Celebration five years ago, and one of the main attractors was family day," Almeida said. "We decided to use the opportunity to introduce to kids and families another culture. It is a way also that they could be exposed to the arts and crafts from that specific culture. So that's an event that is entertainment but also education."

This year's KC Chinese New Year Family Day takes place Saturday, Jan. 25, starting in the early afternoon with hands-on arts and crafts, lantern making, sugar painting demonstrations and woodblock painting/printing. In the evening, the Beijing Bamboo Orchestra, China's first all-bamboo orchestra, will perform and outdoor activities will continue at the REACH.

Here is the full schedule for the Kennedy Center's Lunar New Year Celebration:

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 22

Shanghai Chinese Orchestra with Muhai Tang, conductor: 8 p.m., at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets: $15-59. After the concert, enjoy the REACH Winter Lanterns.

REACH Winter Lanterns: 5:30-10 p.m. The REACH glows with approximately 100 Winter Lanterns adorned with 10,000 LED lights. Designs include the Chinese Four Symbols and 12 Zodiac Signs, Panda Grove, Mushroom Garden, Floral Garden, Jelly Fish Corner and Water Lilies display. Visitors can also enjoy artisan demonstrations and performances, food trucks and more. Free.

THURSDAY/JAN. 23

REACH Winter Lanterns: 5:30-10 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

FRIDAY/JAN. 24

REACH Winter Lanterns: 5:30-10:30 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

SATURDAY/JAN. 25

KC Chinese New Year Family Day: 1:30–4:30 p.m. Free activities for children of all ages, including arts and crafts, a traditional costume photo booth, zodiac stickers, and demonstrations of calligraphy, plus exciting performances by an internationally acclaimed magician from Shenzhen.

Beijing Bamboo Orchestra: 6 p.m., on the Millennium Stage. Free.

REACH Winter Lanterns: 5:30-10:30 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

SUNDAY/JAN. 26

REACH Winter Lanterns: 4-9:30 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

THURSDAY/JAN. 30

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: Korea Supported by Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington D.C. 5:30-10 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

FRIDAY/JAN. 31

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: 5:30-10:30 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

SATURDAY/FEB. 1

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: 5:30-10:30 p.m., at The REACH. Free.

SATURDAY/FEB. 2

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: 4-9:30 p.m., at The REACH. Free.