The Year of the Snake is almost upon us. Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in China and for many Asian communities around the world. This year, the beginning of the 15-day festival kicks off Jan. 29 with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and runs through the following full moon on Feb. 12. These two weeks are a time for connecting with friends and family, enjoying festive foods, and other traditions.
Starting this week, the Twin Cities will offer a variety of options for celebrating Lunar New Year, from dining specials to cultural events. Here are a few highlights to explore:
Year of the Snake Event at Rainbow Chinese (Jan. 29, 5:30-8:30 p.m.)
Ring in the Lunar New Year with a family-style feast at Rainbow Chinese on Minneapolis’ Eat Street. Tickets include an all-you-can-eat dinner, complimentary amuse-bouche, and two beverages crafted by expert mixologist Marco Zappia.

Courtesy of Rainbow Chinese
The Serpent’s Charm: Fashion Show (Jan. 31, 7-9 p.m.)
This fashion show at The Luminare in Minneapolis will explore the interplay between contemporary and traditional fashion, weaving together cultural symbols to celebrate the transformation, resilience, and renewal embodied by the snake.
Fulton’s Lunar New Year Celebration (Feb. 1, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Southwest Minneapolis’ Fulton neighborhood is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration for all ages at the Pershing Park Rec Center. Attendees can look forward to food demonstrations, arts and crafts, Mahjong lessons, children’s story time in English and Chinese, food trucks, and more.
Theater Mu’s Lunar New Year Cabaret (Feb. 1, 7-9 p.m.)
Theater Mu’s third-annual Lunar New Year Cabaret will feature a lineup of Broadway hits that celebrate Asian American joy and queer representation. Taking place Feb. 1 from 7-9 p.m. at St. Paul’s North Garden Theater, the event will also offer cocktails, complimentary desserts, a performance by the Ha Family lion dance troupe.

Photo by Xu Yang
Lunar New Year Celebration at Mall of America (Feb. 1 and 2, 12:30-5:30 p.m.)
Mall of America’s Lunar New Year Celebration will honor the Year of the Snake—a symbol of wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. From 12:30-5:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 and 2, the Huntington Bank Rotunda will be filled with artistic performances, cultural presentations, photo ops, and more. Plus, check out the Lunar New Year display in the North Atrium for the entire month of February.
VSAM Tết Show 2025: “Colors of the Homeland” (Feb. 8, 8 p.m.)
The Vietnamese Student Association of Minnesota is hosting a student-run event to celebrate Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The celebration at Northrop in Minneapolis will showcase live singing performances, a skit, traditional and modern dances and fashion, and the Lion Dance. The show seeks to transport the audience to various Vietnamese cities and villages, highlighting the cultural traditions of each.
Lunar New Year Celebration with the Minnesota Orchestra (Feb. 8, 7 p.m.)
Gather with friends and family to enjoy the sounds of the Minnesota Orchestra, celebrating the Year of the Snake with works that honor family traditions and themes of unity and wealth.
Creative Workshop at XIA Gallery & Cafe (Feb. 16, 1-3 p.m.)
Celebrate Lunar New Year by making your own pop-out snake book, where you can include your own affirmations for the upcoming year. This free drop-in workshop will be facilitated by local artist Dawn Wing at XIA Gallery & Cafe in St. Paul, and is open to ages 10 and up.