LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2025
FEATURING ARTWORK ORGANIZED
BY TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
Nic Annette Miller. Courtesy of artist.
Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Tulsa Artist District
101 East Archer Street Tulsa, OK 74103
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL.
Ring in the Year of the Snake surrounded by neighbors and friends at Downtown Tulsa's first-ever Lunar New Year Festival! This celebratory evening includes cultural performances, free food, music, family-friendly activities, sparklers, a spectacular lion dance performance by the Hung Viet Lion Dance Team, and special remarks by Mayor Monroe Nichols.
The immersive festival will present artwork organized by the Tulsa Artist Fellowship featuring artists Nic Annette Miller, Đan Lynh Phạm, and May Yang.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations in many Asian communities, symbolizing renewal, family unity, and the hope for prosperity in the coming year. Rooted in ancient agricultural cycles, it marks the transition of seasons and the lunar calendar's start. In China, the holiday is tied to the legend of Nian, a mythical beast driven away with red decorations, loud noises, and firecrackers. In Vietnam, Tết honors ancestors and the renewal of life, with peach blossoms and kumquat trees symbolizing good fortune. Korea’s Seollal highlights ancestral rituals and traditions like Charye, while Mongolia’s Tsagaan Sar celebrates the White Moon with feasts and family reunions. Across cultures, the Lunar New Year reflects unique traditions yet shares a universal message of hope, gratitude, and connection to heritage.
Hosted by the City of Tulsa Asian Affairs Commission with generous support provided by APIDA Tulsa, University of Tulsa, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Williams, Philbrook Museum of Art, Circle Cinema, Kremee, and 100 C Hot Pot.
Đan Lynh Phạm. Courtesy of artist.
THE CITY OF TULSA ASIAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION
The City of Tulsa Asian Affairs Commission was established by the City Ordinance in the fall of 2023. The Commission is comprised of 15 representatives from the Asian community in Tulsa. It primarily serves to strengthen the representation of Asian immigrant and refugee communities in Tulsa and serves in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and the City Council. The Asian Affairs Commission is one of six Title V commissions that represent and advocate for women, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and human rights in Tulsa.
APIDA TULSA
APIDA Tulsa (Asian Pacific Islander Desi-American) is an Asian affinity group dedicated to fostering a sense of community and belonging among Asian Americans in Tulsa. Originating as a small interest group in response to Anti-Asian Hate, APIDA Tulsa now hosts fun events and collaborates with local organizations in working towards their mission: Empowering Tulsa’s Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American (APIDA) community through engagement, education, and advocacy–uniting people and strengthening Tulsa’s future.
ABOUT TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
With the belief that arts are critical to the advancement of cultural citizenship, Tulsa Artist Fellowship supports artists and arts workers in the heart of Oklahoma’s Green Country. Socially invested artistic practitioners live and work here, intentionally engaging with our city.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Tulsa Artist Fellowship strives to provide a welcoming and accessible experience. Our exhibitions and events are free, documented, and archived.