AUSTIN, Texas — The Lunar New Year is almost here, and families across Central Texas are invited to ring it in with a festive, cultural celebration at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. This month’s Free First Sunday event honors the Year of the Horse with a full day of hands-on activities, performances, and family-friendly fun.
Joining Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner, Kristin Johnson from the Bullock Museum and Alex Cheong with the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team shared a preview of what guests can expect during Sunday’s celebration!
Joining Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner, Kristin Johnson from the Bullock Museum and Alex Cheong with the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team shared a preview of what guests can expect during Sunday’s celebration!
Free First Sunday is a beloved monthly tradition that opens the doors of the museum to the community at no cost, offering interactive programming designed to spark curiosity and connection for visitors of all ages. According to museum organizers, the event is meant to be welcoming, inclusive, and engaging — especially for families looking to learn together.
Free First Sunday is a beloved monthly tradition that opens the doors of the museum to the community at no cost, offering interactive programming designed to spark curiosity and connection for visitors of all ages. According to museum organizers, the event is meant to be welcoming, inclusive, and engaging — especially for families looking to learn together. Courtesy: Bullock Museum{ }
“The first Sunday of every month, we host our H-E-B Free First Sunday,” Kristin Johnson said. “The museum has free admission all day from 10 to 5, and we offer family activities from 10 to 2. Anyone can come — it’s great for families, and there’s something for all ages. This month, we’re especially excited to celebrate Lunar New Year!
The first Sunday of every month, we host our H-E-B Free First Sunday,” Kristin Johnson said. “The museum has free admission all day from 10 to 5, and we offer family activities from 10 to 2. Anyone can come — it’s great for families, and there’s something for all ages. This month, we’re especially excited to celebrate Lunar New Year! We have some fantastic partners joining us, including our sister city from Japan. Guests can enjoy Lunar New Year crafts, a storytime with the Austin Public Library, and hands-on activities like a lunar clock project. And of course, we’re thrilled to have a live performance by the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team.”Courtesy: Bullock Museum
We have some fantastic partners joining us, including our sister city from Japan. Guests can enjoy Lunar New Year crafts, a storytime with the Austin Public Library, and hands-on activities like a lunar clock project. And of course, we’re thrilled to have a live performance by the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team.”
The first Sunday of every month, we host our H-E-B Free First Sunday,” Kristin Johnson said. “The museum has free admission all day from 10 to 5, and we offer family activities from 10 to 2. Anyone can come — it’s great for families, and there’s something for all ages. This month, we’re especially excited to celebrate Lunar New Year! We have some fantastic partners joining us, including our sister city from Japan. Guests can enjoy Lunar New Year crafts, a storytime with the Austin Public Library, and hands-on activities like a lunar clock project. And of course, we’re thrilled to have a live performance by the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team.”Courtesy: Bullock Museum
For February’s celebration, guests can expect a lineup of activities inspired by Lunar New Year traditions. The schedule includes a special storytime with the Austin Public Library, origami stations, math and STEM activities for curious young minds, and live cultural performances throughout the day.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year at Free First Sunday at The Bullock!{ } Courtesy: Bullock Museum
“So this is what we call a lion here,” Alex Cheong said. “We do both dragon and lion dancing, and people often get them mixed up. The lion is made with paper maché over a small bamboo frame, and it’s commonly decorated with fur. For performances, we have a few ways to start — sometimes we transition straight into the performance, and other times we parade in, depending on what our client wants and what the audience expects. Each lion has two performers inside. Usually, it has a long tail, though I’ve removed some parts for demonstration. Behind us, we have one of our drums, a gong, and a variety of cymbals to create that resonant, lively music.”
For February’s celebration, guests can expect a lineup of activities inspired by Lunar New Year traditions. The schedule includes a special storytime with the Austin Public Library, origami stations, math and STEM activities for curious young minds, and live cultural performances throughout the day.
A highlight of the day will be performances by the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team, whose energetic routines bring centuries-old traditions to life through movement, music, and storytelling. The group regularly performs at community events across Texas, sharing the cultural significance behind dragon and lion dances while creating memorable experiences for audiences.
Dragon and lion dances are traditionally performed during celebrations like Lunar New Year to bring good luck, prosperity, and protection. The performances are known for their vibrant costumes, rhythmic drumming, and dynamic choreography — offering a powerful way for the public to connect with cultural history in an accessible, joyful setting.Courtesy: Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team
“We let anyone play whichever part they’re interested in,” Alex Cheong said. “If someone wants to be in the head, they can be in the head. If they want to be in the tail, they can take the tail. If they want to step back and observe the performance a little more, that’s fine too — as long as they stay engaged and help with the cymbals. We also have performers who are musically talented and want to play drums or the gong, so we let everyone choose the part that excites them the most.”
“As a nonprofit, part of our mission is to spread the culture of dragon and lion dancing,” Alex Cheong said. “We have a day where we visit a number of schools — it’s called Teaching Day, which will be on February 20th. We give students a little storytime about the origins and myth of the lion dance, and then we show them a performance. Honestly, my favorite part is seeing their amazement. People will be like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ when they see some of our stunts. Phones come out, there’s clapping, cheering — it’s just so rewarding. It feels amazing to be acknowledged and to give people a chance to experience such an ancient and important cultural art like lion dance.”Courtesy: Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team
Dragon and lion dances are traditionally performed during celebrations like Lunar New Year to bring good luck, prosperity, and protection. The performances are known for their vibrant costumes, rhythmic drumming, and dynamic choreography — offering a powerful way for the public to connect with cultural history in an accessible, joyful setting.
A highlight of the day will be performances by the Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team, whose energetic routines bring centuries-old traditions to life through movement, music, and storytelling. The group regularly performs at community events across Texas, sharing the cultural significance behind dragon and lion dances while creating memorable experiences for audiences.Courtesy: Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team
“As a nonprofit, part of our mission is to spread the culture of dragon and lion dancing,” Alex Cheong said. “We have a day where we visit a number of schools — it’s called Teaching Day, which will be on February 20th. We give students a little storytime about the origins and myth of the lion dance, and then we show them a performance. Honestly, my favorite part is seeing their amazement. People will be like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ when they see some of our stunts. Phones come out, there’s clapping, cheering — it’s just so rewarding. It feels amazing to be acknowledged and to give people a chance to experience such an ancient and important cultural art like lion dance.”
“So this is what we call a lion here,” Alex Cheong said. “We do both dragon and lion dancing, and people often get them mixed up. The lion is made with paper maché over a small bamboo frame, and it’s commonly decorated with fur. For performances, we have a few ways to start — sometimes we transition straight into the performance, and other times we parade in, depending on what our client wants and what the audience expects. Each lion has two performers inside. Usually, it has a long tail, though I’ve removed some parts for demonstration. Behind us, we have one of our drums, a gong, and a variety of cymbals to create that resonant, lively music.”Courtesy: Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team
Both organizers and performers say events like Free First Sunday are about more than entertainment — they’re about creating shared moments of learning, appreciation, and community. Whether it’s a child experiencing a lion dance for the first time or a family participating in hands-on activities together, the goal is to leave visitors feeling inspired and welcomed.
“We let anyone play whichever part they’re interested in,” Alex Cheong said. “If someone wants to be in the head, they can be in the head. If they want to be in the tail, they can take the tail. If they want to step back and observe the performance a little more, that’s fine too — as long as they stay engaged and help with the cymbals. We also have performers who are musically talented and want to play drums or the gong, so we let everyone choose the part that excites them the most.”Courtesy: Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team
Free First Sunday takes place this weekend at the Bullock Museum and is open to the public!!
For more information about the Lunar New Year celebration, programming details, and upcoming events, visitors can visit the Bullock Museum’s website thestoryoftexas.com or follow along on social media!
For more information about the Lunar New Year celebration, programming details, and upcoming events, visitors can visit the Bullock Museum’s website thestoryoftexas.com or follow along on social media!
Texas Dragon Lion Dance Team, check them out on their website: tddt.org
