May art bring you good fortune! Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, with performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for all ages.
All activities are free with Museum admission, and no registration is required. Admission is free for Members and kids under 12. For New York state residents and NY, NJ, and CT students, the amount you pay is up to you.
View the schedule in English.
View the schedule in Spanish. Ver el programa en español.
View the schedule in simplified Chinese. 查看简体中文版的活动日程。
View the schedule in Korean. 한국어로 프로그램 일정 보기.
View a sensory-friendly resource for visitors on the autism spectrum.
Schedule of Events
All activities run from 11 am to 5 pm unless otherwise noted. Programs are subject to change.
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Performances and Photo Ops
Space is limited; first come, first served.
Lunar New Year Lion Dance
11–11:30 am, 1–1:30 pm, 3–3:30 pm
Ring in a prosperous New Year with the Chinese Center on Long Island Lion Troupe.
Floor 1, Great Hall
AAPI Jazz Collective Led by Peter Lin
12–12:30 pm, 2–2:30 pm, 4–4:30 pm
Hear music from many Asian cultures, including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, reimagined within a jazz context.
Floor 1, Great Hall
Shadow Theatre Storytime
11:30 am–12 pm, 12:30–1 pm, 2–2:30 pm
Tickets distributed 15 minutes prior at event location.
Gather to hear Grandma Rabbit’s tale in this traditional Chinese shadow performance from Chinese Theatre Works.
Ground Floor, Art Study Room, Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education
Alan Muraoka and Sesame Street Muppeteers Photo Op
11:30 am–12:15 pm, 1–1:45 pm, 2:30–3:15 pm, 4–4:45 pm
Snap a pic with Alan, the beloved owner of Hooper’s Store, and Sesame Street Muppeteers.
Note: For safety purposes, we’ll maintain a short distance between the performers and the audience.
Floor 1, Egyptian Art, Gallery 131, Temple of Dendur
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Art Activities
Meet artists and make art inspired by The Met collection! Drop in anytime.
Unless otherwise noted, activities are best for ages 3 and up.
Zodiac Zone: Shrinky Dinks Charms
Discover your sign and create a miniature charm to represent your Chinese zodiac animal.
Ground Floor, Studio, Uris Center for Education
To the Beat of the Hand Drum
Ring in the New Year with rhythm and construct your own hand drum.
Ground Floor, Carson Family Hall West, Uris Center for Education
Design an Animal Helmet
Take inspiration from an impressive Japanese rabbit kawari-kabuto and other headpieces to construct your own animal helmet.
Ground Floor, Carson Family Hall East, Uris Center for Education
Paper Blossoms
Create a celebratory bouquet using a variety of paper craft techniques.
Floor 2, Asian Art, Gallery 202, Great Hall Balcony
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Gallery Activities
Ask the Experts: Handscroll Demonstration
Peek at technique and learn how works of art were created through demonstrations and conversations with Museum staff.
Floor 2, Asian Art, Gallery 217, Chinese Courtyard in the Style of the Ming Dynasty
Gallery Chats
Drop in for a short conversation with Met volunteer guides about their favorite works of art.
11:30 am–12:30 pm Conversation in Korean, Gallery 233
11:30 am–12:30 pm Conversation in Mandarin, Gallery 208
1–2 pm Conversation in Mandarin, Gallery 208
1–2 pm Conversation in English, Gallery 211
2:30–3:30 pm Conversation in Mandarin, Gallery 208
4–5 pm Conversation in English, Gallery 207
Creative Calligraphy
Express yourself with Chinese and Korean calligraphy through guided brushwork.
Floor 2, Asian Art, Gallery 202, Great Hall Balcony
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Demonstrations and Pop-Ups
Tea Ceremony and Bubble Tea Tasting
Cheers the New Year with bubble tea and a demonstration by tea masters from Ten Ren Tea.
12:30–1 pm, 2:30–3 pm Tea Ceremony
1:30–2 pm, 3:30–4 pm Bubble Tea Tasting
Ground Floor, Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall, Uris Center for Education
Korean Fan Dance Workshop
12–12:30 pm, 1:30–2 pm, 3:30–4 pm
Tickets distributed 15 minutes prior at event location.
Learn a traditional fan dance with dancers from The New York Korean Performing Arts Center.
Ground Floor, Carroll Classroom, Uris Center for Education
Pop-Up Shop: Yu and Me Books
Shop local at Yu and Me, a Chinatown bookshop focusing on community and immigrant stories.
Floor 1, Gallery 534, Patio from the Castle of Vélez Blanco
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Quiet Spaces
Need a break?
Check out these quiet galleries and enjoy some art away from the action.
Floor 1, Greek and Roman Art, Galleries 163–168, Leon Levy and Shelby White Court
Floor 2, Asian Art, Galleries 208 and 233
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Virtual Events
Can't join us in person? Experience Lunar New Year Festival activities online. Please note: These events are prerecorded.
Insider Insights—Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit (Mandarin and English)
Join Jason Sun, Brooke Russell Astor Curator of Chinese Art, The Met, to explore the exhibition Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. It is offered in both Mandarin and English.
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, with a calligraphy video demonstrating four script types, including seal script, clerical script, standard script, and semicursive/cursive script. Using brush and ink, scholar and artist Zheng Wei 鄭威 deftly shows the skills required to form the character for rabbit in four different ways, proceeding from the most ancient—seal script—through the different script types of Chinese calligraphy. Grab your brush and ink and give calligraphy a try to commemorate the Lunar New Year!
IP-CHUM with The New York Korean Performing Arts Center
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a dance and musical performance by The New York Korean Performing Arts Center in The Met's Astor Court.
#MetLunar
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Stop by the welcome table in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education (ground floor) to request an assistive listening device, an American Sign Language interpreter, a sighted guide, and a large-print or Braille schedule of events, or to learn more about access accommodations, programs, and resources at The Met. You can also access The Met’s sensory-friendly resources online and take a break in the quiet galleries.
During this period of high virus transmission, masks are strongly recommended.
See our visitor guidelines
Image: Photo by Don Pollard
