Our mission is to provide resources and support for the local Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander American community, and increase the visibility and representation of the Asian American diaspora in Evanston’s civic, cultural and community spaces through the arts.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Sunday, January 26, 2025
12-3:30pm
Schedule of Activities
**check our website and social media for any updates due to inclement weather**
12-2pm
Indoor & Outdoor Activities will be happening from 12-2pm before the Lion Dance performance and speakers begin at 2pm!
Some tents will be active outdoors with info tables, games, and giveaways in the street blocked off (see above map). Indoor activities will be happening in 3 locations (see above map). Some are drop-in and some will require pre-registration. All activities are free. Please note that some activities are designed for young people over 10 yrs. Scroll down for details.
At Pink & Tan, 604 Dempster St.
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Suminigashi Printing hosted by Studio 3
12-12:20pm, 12:30-12:50pm, 1-1:20pm & 1-1:50pm
This activity is for 10 yrs and up!
Pre-registration is required
Register BELOW
At Coco Design & Build, 602 Dempster St.
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Kids Craft and Sing-a-Long hosted by Evanston Public Library
Art Activity hosted by ETHS Chinese Club
At 601 Dempster St.
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Red Envelope Activity hosted by Commissioner Josina Morita
Stuff lucky red envelopes and take them home to share with family and friends!
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Umbrella Box Sale hosted by Evanston ASPA
Buy a locally hand-crafted bake box filled with Asian-inspired sweet and savory treats as part of a fundraiser to support our local Asian American community!
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Learn how to play Mahjong!
12:30-1pm & 1-1:30pm
This activity is for 13 yrs and up!
Pre-registration is required
Register BELOW
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Art Activity hosted by the McGaw YMCA
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Peppercorns Kitchen Pop-Up
Delicious hot take away food for sale from local restaurant Peppercorns Kitchen!
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Meet Local Orgs & Businesses
J-Hilburn, Northlight Theatre & KAN-WIN will be here to share their work
**Evanston ASPA and Peppercorn will continue to sell cookie boxes and food indoors through 3:30pm or until supplies run out! Our local orgs & businesses will also be hanging out to chat past 2pm**
Main Event
2-3:30pm
Join us outside on Dempster St. between Chicago Ave. and Sherman at 2pm for a welcome from Mayor Daniel Biss, Commissioner Josina Morita and Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz followed by a traditional Lion Dance performed by the Chicago Northwest Suburban Chinese School & the Brothers Lion Dance Group!
Workshop Registrations
Thank you to our community partners!
Thank you to our Lion Dance sponsor!
Thank you to Bob Amado for his generous support of our event!
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the first moon in the lunar calendar. It is celebrated by over 1.5 billion people around the world and is a major holiday in countries such as China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tibet and Vietnam. It is also widely celebrated by ASPA communities in Canada and the United States. Many also call the holiday Chinese New Year due to its origins dated back 3,500 years ago. There are many traditions associated with Lunar New Year and they differ depending on the culture, but for most, it is a celebration of new beginnings and good fortune. Observances involve family gatherings, traditional food and clothing, prayer and worship, pageantry, and fireworks. This is the year of the rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac. Based on Chinese astrology, the zodiac consists of 12 animals that represent characteristics of the coming year and people who are born under that sign.
What is the Chinese Lion Dance?
In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, strength, wisdom, and superiority. The lion dance (mou si 舞獅 in Cantonese and wǔshī 舞狮 in Mandarin) is one of the most important traditions during Lunar New Year. Dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), the lion dance chases away evil spirits and brings good fortune for the new year. The dancers are typically highly skilled performers who are martial arts practitioners dancing to the beat of drums, cymbals, and gongs.
Lion Dance Symbolism
3 Bows
As the lion begins its dance, it will bow three times, each one representing heaven, earth and man. After the dance is over, the lion will once again bow three times.
Lettuce Offering
Lettuce or other type of green produce are offered to the lion during the dance. After “eating” the lettuce, the lion will spit it out, which represents the lion spreading wealth, prosperity and good luck.
Costume
On the forehead of the lion is a mirror, or shield, which is used to repel negative energy and evil. A lion might also have a horn on its head, which is also used to fight evil.
looking back...
Lion Dance
Lion Dance
Lion Dance Performer Photo Credit: Nina Kavin
Lion Dance
LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024
YEAR OF THE DRAGON
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the 3rd Annual Lunar New Year event! It was a gorgeous day for lantern making, hot tea, lucky red envelopes, a lion dance and community fun! Thanks to Commissioner Josina Morita, Mayor Daniel Biss and our community partners Main Dempster Mile, Evanston Pride, Studio 3, and Evanston Public Library for helping to make the event a success! Shout out to Pink & Tan and Coco Design & Build for hosting activities and to our fearless volunteer translators Wendy, Ling and Limin.
Lunar New Year Brings Evanston’s Asian American Community Together
Daily Northwestern
Studio 3 Lantern Making Workshops at Pink & Tan!
