Release Date: January 15,2025
Lunar New Year Celebration Returns to Downtown Akron February 15
January 15, 2025, Akron, Ohio — Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) announces that it will present the 4th annual Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration, which will usher in the Year of the Snake at the beautiful Akron Civic Theatre on Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 3:30 to 8 pm.
Attorney, educator, and Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Planning Committee member Elaine Tso says, “Lunar New Year gathers family and friends together to wish each other good luck and prosperity for the year to come. Some communities refer to Lunar New Year as the Spring Festival because it also represents new beginnings as each year offers a fresh start and emerging opportunities like flowers that begin to bloom in the Spring.”
Doors to the Civic Theatre will open at 3:30 pm, when visitors will enjoy a Culture Fair featuring local vendors, information booths, free crafts, festive photo opportunities and more. House doors will open at 5 pm for attendees to find their seats ahead of the 6 pm program, which will showcase a lineup of cultural performances on the Civic’s main stage. Performance highlights will include returning favorites such as the Lion Dance by Kwan Family Lion Dance, the Dragon Dance by NIHF STEM Middle School learners and dances by the Cleveland Glory Waist Drum Team. Appearing for the first time at the Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration will be the Blooming Flowers Hmong Dance Team and the Ohio Samul Nori. The full schedule of performances will be available at downtownakron.com.
Following the show, attendees will be invited to step into the open space in the newly renovated Lock 3 to enjoy a dazzling fireworks display, presented by Lock 3, slated to take place at approximately 8:15 pm.
General admission tickets must be reserved to enjoy this event. Tickets are $5 each plus fees if purchased online at AkronCivic.com. The Akron Civic Theatre is a no-fee box office, and tickets can be purchased there Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.
The illustration for the 2025 Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration was created by Cleveland-based artist Chi-Irena Wong, who will be signing copies of the event poster at the celebration. The original, hand-painted illustration will also be framed and raffled off at the event.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries beginning on the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ending 15 days later on the first full moon of the calendar. Dates of the celebration vary from year to year, usually falling between January 21 and February 20.
A recap of last year’s celebration can be read here.
Akron METRO RTA will be offering free rides to and from the celebration. Ride METRO Direct & METRO ADA to the celebration for free when you show the event flyer, available at downtownakron.com, (paper or digital) to the bus operator. Call 330.762.0341 for routes and times or visit www.yourmetrobus.org to plan your trip.
The 2025 Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration is presented by Downtown Akron Partnership, with generous support from the City of Akron, Knight Foundation, the Ohio Arts Council, Lock 3, GAR Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, and the Akron Civic Theatre. Other community partners include the Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron Public Schools, National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School, Asian Services in Action, METRO RTA, The University of Akron Zips Activity Board and the Lunar New Year Planning Committee.