CARSON CITY, NV — In what has become an annual tradition, the Nevada State Museum and the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada are teaming up again to bring Lunar New Year to downtown Carson City on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

This year’s celebration honors the Wood Snake, a sign of knowledge, wisdom and intuition in the Chinese Zodiac.

Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. inside the Dema Guinn Concourse at the Nevada State Museum with fun serpent-themed crafts and a Natural History Curator’s Corner showcasing snake specimens of Nevada.

Members of the Carson Valley Chinese Cultural Group led by Sonia Carlson (far left, red). Photo by Brett Fischer.

At 10 a.m., the Carson Valley Chinese Cultural Group, led by Xian Na “Sonia” Carlson, will present their signature theatrical performance in the concourse, telling the story of Lunar New Year through music and folk dance.

The traditional Lion Dance parade, meant to bring good luck to those in its path, leads a procession at 11 a.m. from the Nevada State Museum to the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, where the Reno Chinese Cultural Group is scheduled to perform at 11:30 a.m. and Carlson’s group at 12:30 p.m. A food truck will be parked out front and a lantern craft will occur in the art room from 1-4 p.m. Admission to the Children’s Museum is $5 and free for members.

Saturday’s activities inside the Nevada State Museum concourse are free. Admission to the galleries is $10 for adults and free for members and visitors 17 and under.

Sonia Carlson performs a dance with the lion character during LNY 2024. Photo by Brett Fisher.

According to legend, the Chinese Zodiac calendar was established by the order in which invited guests — the signs of the Zodiac — had arrived for a Spring feast held in celebration of the new year. In 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake (or Serpent) is celebrated.

The Lunar New Year celebration, also known as the Spring Festival in China, was introduced in the United States during the 1850s by Chinese immigrants who joined mining camps during the California Gold Rush and later followed the Central Pacific Railroad east.

The Nevada State Museum is located at 600 N. Carson Street in Carson City with parking off Curry Street. Open hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. Learn more at https://www.carsonnvmuseum.org/ and follow the Nevada State Museum on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, located at 813 N. Carson Street with parking along Ann and Plaza streets, is open Wednesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit https://www.cmnn.org/ for more information and follow the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada on Facebook and Instagram.