Lunar New Year 2026: Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse at Filoli
Help Filoli welcome the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, enthusiasm, and forward motion. Throughout February, explore cultural traditions, art, music, and storytelling that honor the season of renewal.
Discover Stories Through Art and Florals
All month long in the Historic House, find displays from Filoli’s Asian art collection that feature symbolism connected to transformation, balance, renewal, and the natural world, themes deeply rooted in the holiday. Join a free 15-minute Asian Art Talk to explore highlights of Filoli’s collection through the lens of the Lunar New Year. Look closely at objects from China and Vietnam, spanning centuries of craftsmanship. Mythological phoenixes symbolize rebirth, and zodiac figures, featuring this year’s horse. Each stop reveals how art can carry meaning across time and cultures.
In addition, Filoli’s Horticulture team showcases Lunar New Year-inspired floral arrangements throughout the rooms of the House, featuring pops of red and citrus. The Chinese words for “orange” and “tangerine” sound like those for “luck” and “wealth,” and their golden color symbolizes prosperity.
Family-Friendly Festivities
Celebrate with loved ones during Filoli’s Lunar New Year-themed Family Day on February 28th, featuring Chinese lion dance performances in the House Courtyard and family-friendly programming. San Jose’s Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association returns to Filoli for a second year to perform Sar Ping Hok San lion dance in the House Courtyard. Experience an energy like no other! Talented dancers wear large, expressive lion costumes with bright, colorful features while the sounds of drums echo off the brick of the House. It’s a sublime performance you won’t want to miss.
Family games, crafts, and activities will run throughout the day, provided by some of Filoli’s community partners, including Partner Plot participants from Terra Nova, Youth Program participants from Chinatown Community Children’s Center, and PG&E volunteers.
Stories in Bloom: Music for the New Year
On February 28, Filoli’s Stories in Bloom series continues with a performance by Winnie Wong, who will share the expressive sounds of the guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument. Wong invites listeners into a cultural experience that celebrates reflection, harmony, and the season’s emotional resonance.
A Season of Reflection and Renewal
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures and communities around the world, and Filoli is honored to share this season through art, storytelling, and gathering. Whether you’re joining an art talk, enjoying live music, or simply wandering the House, Garden, and Natural Lands, we invite you to pause, reflect, and welcome the year of the Fire Horse with curiosity and hope. All Lunar New Year programs mentioned are free with Filoli admission, and advance tickets are recommended. We look forward to celebrating the new year with you. Lunar New Year Family Day tickets are available here.