Lunar New Year at the L.A. Zoo
February 1–2
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free with paid Zoo admission and for GLAZA members
Associate Sponsor
Join us in celebrating the Year of the Snake!
The Los Angeles Zoo is thrilled to welcome members of our Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and all Angelenos to enjoy special activities and performances honoring the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake.
Lunar New Year is a festival rich in tradition that occurs on the first day of a new year in the lunisolar calendar, a calendar that is based on the cycles of the moon’s phases and the sun’s position. Depending on the position of the moon, Lunar New Year falls on a different day in January or February. This year, it’s on January 29.
Special Programming at the L.A. Zoo
- Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese dance performances by Asian Arts Talents Foundation at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
- Calligraphy, sky lantern, and Chinese paper cutting demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wall of Well Wishes (10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo)—Share your hopes and dreams for the New Year by adding them to the Wall of Well Wishes. Volunteers will be on hand during designated hours to provide cards and pens.
- Bitty Bao Story Time and Craft (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.)—Enjoy bilingual readings of two delightful Bitty Bao books—Celebrating Chinese New Year and Lucky Lunar Animals—and make your own red envelope for gifting.
- Special Animal Feedings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Education Stations (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Slithering Snakes—Snakes move, eat, grow, and hunt in unique ways. It’s what makes the LAIR one of the Zoo’s most popular destinations! Explore how snakes find and capture prey, swallow food, and shed their skin. You’ll learn about unique adaptations that allow these legless critters to inhabit almost every corner of the globe.
- Monkey Mania—Swing into the world of primates and explore life in the treetops! Try your hand at building a tree that’s sturdy enough to support an agile, arboreal monkey. Then, join the troop and learn about the importance of sociality and cooperation through a fun grooming game. Finally, take a closer look at the many primates that call the Zoo home and locate their natural habitats all across the globe.
- Year of the Snake photo op
- Zoo-diac Tour (Zoo-wide)—Many animals of the 12-year Chinese zodiac can be found at the Zoo! View and take a photo of the Zoo-diac Tour map in the Zoo’s Entry Plaza to find them all during your visit.
- Los Angeles Public Library (Sunday only, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)—The LAPL Outreach Van will be on hand with library card sign-ups and books available to take home and return to your local library branch.
Upper-Level Member Preview
February 1 (Saturday)
8–10 a.m.
GLAZA members at the Family Deluxe level and above have the opportunity to experience Lunar New Year weekend before the Zoo opens to the public, with exclusive performances, special animal experiences, and free carousel rides until 10 a.m. Please watch your email for an invitation to RSVP. To upgrade your support in order to attend, email membership@lazoo.org.
Special programming includes:
- Calligraphy, Chinese sky lantern, and paper cutting demonstrations (8 to 10 a.m.)
- Education stations, Wall of Well Wishes, carousel, and self-guided Zoo-diac Tour available (8 to 10 a.m.)
- LAIR open (starting at 8:30 a.m.)
- Bitty Bao story reading and red envelope craft (9 a.m.)
- Special animal feedings (9 and 9:30 a.m.)
- Dance performance by Asian Arts Talents Foundation (9 a.m.)
Please bring your membership card and valid photo ID for admission. Guest passes will not be honored for this event, which is for Family Deluxe members and higher. Thank you for your GLAZA membership support!
To upgrade your support in order to attend, please email membership@lazoo.org. Not a Member? Join today!
About Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is a festival rich in tradition that occurs on the first day of a new year in the lunisolar calendar, a calendar that is based on the cycles of the moon’s phases and the sun’s position. Depending on the position of the moon, Lunar New Year falls on a different day in January or February. This year, it’s on January 29.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in many east Asian countries, including China, Singapore, South Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam. Typical festivities last for multiple days, sometimes as long as 15 days depending on the culture. It is traditionally a time for food, festivities, and family gatherings.
Get Social With Us!
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