Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX- The International Museum of Art & Science will be hosting its eighth annual Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate the Year of the Mouse (Rat) alongside RGV’s vibrant Asian community. Visitors of all ages are welcome to explore China, Korea, and Taiwan with traditional calligraphy, art, games, story times by McAllen Public Library children librarians, and more.
Entertainment includes a hip-hop dance by X Studio, a piano performance by Dr. Jooyoung Kim from UTRGV, and a martial art performance by students from Bob Davis Martial Arts school. A food sampling from local restaurants will take place (while supplies lasts), plus boba tea will be for sale by the Filipino Student Association from UTRGV.
Each year, the IMAS hosts the Lunar New Year Festival which celebrates the rich traditions of Asian cultures. While the Gregorian calendar that is used in the United States is based on the solar year, the calendar used in most Asian countries, including China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet, is based on the phases of the moon. Lunar New Year festivals began on January 25, with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and will end on the first full moon fifteen days later. The yearly festival celebrates the coming of spring, and each year is represented by an animal from the Chinese zodiac. This year, the calendar started at the beginning making 2020 the Year of the Rat.
“One of the customs of Lunar New Year is spending time with families and friends. I hope your family will join us for this joyful celebration. I am eager for the RGV community to learn from the Asian organizations that are volunteering their time to teach visitors about their beloved traditions,” states IMAS Director of Education, Claudia Martinez Gray.
Experience the customs unique to China, Korea and Taiwan with activities and performances based on these countries’ common traditions. In the Taiwan room, make a lantern and learn about Taiwanese rituals with a Q&A at 2:30 PM. In China, learn all about the Chinese zodiac, make a mouse bookmark, and see the art of Chinese calligraphy. Play traditional games, experience Korean calligraphy, color a folk-art mask, and try on a hanbok in the Korea room.
For the full event program, visit theimasonline.org or fb.com/imasmcallen . The Lunar New Year Festival is included in cost of General Admission and free for IMAS Members. WIC and EBT cardholders can visit the museum for $1 per person. Public school PreK-12 educators enter free with a valid ID.
