Celebrate the Year of the Snake at Filoli Historic House & Garden
Photo Credit: Photo One Studio
January 3, 2025, Woodside, CA — Filoli is excited to announce the return of its Lunar New Year programming, a two-week celebration throughout the Estate. To observe the Year of the Snake, the Historic House and Garden will host a concert series, dedicated Stories in Bloom programming, and showcase decorate the House to showcase Filoli’s renowned Asian Art collection.
“We are delighted to welcome the New Year by celebrating the Year of the Snake. Filoli’s Lunar New Year programming reflects our commitment to honoring cultural traditions and fostering connections within our community. Partnering with local organizations and sharing this celebration with visitors from near and far is a wonderful way to showcase the diverse heritage that enriches Filoli.”
— Kara Newport, President & CEO
Curated by Filoli’s Director of Collections & Curator, Kevin Wisney, the House display will highlight Filoli’s Asian decorative art collection. Examples include a 16th-century Vietnamese vase and Chinese zodiac figures beloved by Filoli’s last resident, Lurline Roth. Woven into the room decor, multiple vignettes will be arranged throughout the house, including a red envelope exchange in the Ladies Drawing Room, a game of Mahjong in the Gentlemen’s Lounge, and a New Year table setting in the Dining Room. Special floral displays will be on view throughout the House, inspired by guest florist Anna Hu’s personal Lunar New Year traditions. Filoli’s historic citrus collection will brighten the Garden House with its richly colored fruit, highlighting its role as a symbol of good luck and prosperity for the New Year.
Key events include:
Ballroom Performance: Lunar New Year
January 29, 30, 31, 2025
7:30-9:30pm
Filoli’s Ballroom Performance Series returns after the astounding success of the inaugural 2024 season. The 2025 season begins with a celebration of Lunar New Year by pianist Connie Han. Han is heralded by Variety Magazine as “one of contemporary jazz’s most talented and inventive musicians.” She brings her complex and charismatic style to Filoli for a special series honoring the traditions of Lunar New Year with a fresh perspective.
These intimate performances, with a capacity for only 100 guests per performance, are held in Filoli’s newly renovated Ballroom. The performances are likely to sell out, so advance reservations are encouraged. Ticket information is available at filoli.org/performance.
Stories in Bloom: Lunar New Year
February 9, 2025
2-3pm
Filoli brings back the beloved winter storytelling series with a focus on the role of food from around the world in celebration of Lunar New Year. A diverse panel of cultural ambassadors will share their unique food traditions and how their Lunar New Year celebrations have evolved. Panelists include:
- Martin Yan, Host of the award-winning PBS-TV cooking show Yan Can Cook
- Janice Chuang, Artist and Illustrator based in San Francisco
- Vinh G. Nguyen, Managing Artistic Director at Chopsticks Alley Art, a non-profit Southeast Asian arts organization based in San Jose.
Ticket information is available at filoli.org/stories-in-bloom.
Lunar New Year Family Day with Lion Dance
February 9, 2025
10am-4pm
Celebrate Lunar New Year with your loved ones at our Lunar New Year-themed Family Day. Enjoy a traditional Chinese Lion Dance performances and a Lunar New Year story time.
Ticket information is available at filoli.org/lunar-new-year.
Free 15-minute Asian Art Talk
Daily
1pm
Both families who lived at Filoli over the years, the Bourns and the Roths, collected Asian Art during their world travels. During this short talk, explore highlights of Filoli’s historic collection and learn about the artistic symbolism of Lunar New Year.
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#LunarNewYear
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About Filoli
Filoli, (Pronunciation: F ī / Lō / Lē) is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone in Woodside, California. The estate boasts 654 acres of beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range. Originally built as a private residence in 1917, Filoli was opened to the public in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The property is considered one of the finest remaining country estates of the 20th century, featuring a 54,000+ square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion, 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens, a 6.8-acre Gentleman’s Orchard, and hundreds of acres of Natural Lands with six distinct ecosystems and two trail loops. Open 363 days a year, Filoli is just 30 minutes south of San Francisco.
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Contact
Miriam Cohen
Filoli Historic House & Garden
mcohen@filoli.org / press@filoli.org
86 Cañada Road
Woodside, CA 94062
650.364.8300 / 626.726.7507