MFAH: Winter Festival "Year of the Horse” an afternoon celebration to welcome the Lunar New Year
Written by Julieta Torres | March 12, 2026
The Museum of Fine Arts has been home to many cultural and artistic events in Houston. Most notably, the celebration many look forward to is the Winter Festival. This year the museum honored the Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse, by bringing performances, activities and Asian cuisines to the public. The festival is free to attend, and visitors could also enjoy permanent exhibitions at the museums for free.
Photos by Julieta Torres
The festival kicked off with a Taiko drum demonstration by Kaminari Taiko of Houston. The drummers explained the different types of drums that they use in performances as well as how they are maintained traditionally; by tightening and loosening them with ropes. The performance group offers classes and holds support from various organizations such as the Consulate General of Japan in Houston, the Japan America Society, the Asia Society and the Japan Business Association of Houston.
While performances were happening, many other activities were offered for kids and their families to partake in. These included beautiful hanbok displays, wishing plaques, calligraphy and Chinese yoyo demonstrations. Kids could make good luck charms for the new year, build horse sculptures and make paper lanterns.
Photos by Julieta Torres
No festival is complete without food, which was abundant and smelled delicious throughout the grounds. Food vendors included Chi’lantro (Korean & Mexican fusion), Dumpling Haus (traditional Taiwanese and Cantonese dumplings) and drink vendors such as Kohiko Coffee House (specialty coffee inspired by Japanese flavors) and the Boba Cart (Filipino infused boba tea).
The evening came to an end with an extravagant and impressive performance by Lee’s Golden Dragon. Lee’s Golden Dragon has been performing lion dances, dragon dances and drum performances since 1974 all across the United States and most notably for the famous basketball player Yao Ming. The lion dance not only portrayed and told a story but also brought good luck to all visitors. Interacting with audience members as they received good fortune from the lions. The festival ended with the dragon dance which is traditionally performed to bring rain and wash away the old year.
The Winter Festival at the MFAH was a wonderful display of different Asian cultures and their traditions involving the Lunar New Year. From culturally significant performances to delicious cuisine, the festival brought the Houston community together to ring in and bring luck in the new year.
