South Coast Botanic Garden is delighted to announce the return of its third annual Lunar New Year Celebration, expanding this year to honor the rich cultural traditions of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities. Throughout February, guests can immerse themselves in a month-long celebration featuring art-making stations, calligraphy demonstrations, cultural storytelling, a Zodiac Stroll, photo opportunities, and more – all included with General Garden Admission.
For a small additional fee, visitors can enjoy an exciting live performance every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The performances by Wushu Shaolin Entertainment will showcase lion dances, dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations and folk dances that highlight the vibrancy of Lunar New Year celebrations.
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“This year's performance will feature our new wood snake dragon costume with unique green and multicolor embroidery. The snake is known for its wisdom and intuition, which carries rich symbolism and significance,” says Shifu (leader) Sal Redner of Wushu Shaolin Entertainment. “Guests will also see our new lion costumes, specifically made for South Coast Botanic Garden, featuring unique embroidery and color schemes that are like no other lion costumes, each individually handpainted. Our team has prepared for months, bringing together the best of many talents to both inspire and entertain everyone in attendance.”
In addition to the dynamic performances, the Garden’s programming promises to offer something for every visitor. Guests can gather to hear the legendary tale of the Great Race during hourly storytelling sessions beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4p.m., explore the symbolism of the snake through puppet-making, create vibrant paper kites, and share their hopes for the year with the Garden’s Wishing Tree. Plus, guests can enjoy specialty food and beverages from Dottie’s at the Koi Pond.
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“Our Lunar New Year Celebration has quickly become one of our signature events at the Garden, and we are excited to welcome guests as we come together to honor and recognize the rich traditions of the Lunar New Year. This year, we drew inspiration from Lunar New Year celebrations in China, Korea, Vietnam as we designed a unique and wonderful experience for all to enjoy,” says Adrienne Nakashima, CEO of South Coast Botanic Garden. “Our team continuously learns and deepens their understanding of the diverse traditions associated with this holiday, ensuring that each year’s celebration provides a unique and enriching experience for all our guests.”
This year’s expanded celebration promises to be an unforgettable experience for families, friends, and visitors of all ages, offering both cultural enrichment and festive fun as we usher in the Year of the Snake.
South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd.
Palos Verdes Peninsula
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