FOR RELEASE (Kennedy Center Release)
January 10, 2022
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the return of A Lunar New Year Celebration January 27–February 6, 2022
Featuring free activities:
REACH Winter Lanterns display
Chinese and Korean evenings at the REACH
Giveaways, food trucks, and photo opportunities with characters
Millennium Stage performances on January 29 and February 3
(WASHINGTON)—From January 27 through February 6, the Kennedy Center’s Lunar New Year
Celebration returns, honoring the traditional holiday that is observed in countries and territories
around the globe. This year’s free festivities in the “Year of the Tiger,” presented in collaboration
with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group LCC, include the return of the popular Winter
Lanterns display outdoors on the REACH campus, performances on the Millennium Stage,
and two weekends of special evening programs—REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS, celebrating
Chinese and Korean arts and culture.
“The Winter Lanterns became an exciting and important part of our annual Lunar New Year
Celebration that began in 2016.” stated Alicia Adams, Vice President of International
Programming and curator of the Kennedy Center’s Lunar New Year celebrations. “The outdoor
spaces of the REACH provide our audiences with a wonderful opportunity to experience the
Chinese and Korean cultures. And after a year hiatus, we are thrilled to return to our annual
celebration and hope visitors of all ages will enjoy the unique and luminous lanterns around the
campus.”
With a stunning display of approximately 100 Winter Lanterns, the REACH Winter Lanterns
are made up of 10,000 colored LED lights and crafted by Chinese artisans. Offering a whimsical
experience for visitors, the Winter Lanterns display includes six outdoor installations: the
Butterfly Garden, Flamingo Lagoon, Coral Reef, Panda Grove, Mushroom Forest, and Flower
Path.
REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS, January 27–30 and February 3–6, will add excitement and
interactive outdoor activities to the evenings. The first week, which will highlight Chinese
culture, offers photo opportunities with Tiger and Panda characters; writing and sending letters
to former National Zoo pandas Bao Bao, Tai Shan, and Bei Bei, who are now in China; Lunar New
Year freebies, and more. The second week of the celebration spotlights Korean arts and culture
and includes activities such as a traditional Korean costume display at the River Pavilion; photo
opportunities with Korean mascot characters, along with further Lunar New Year giveaways.
Both weekends will include food truck offerings on the REACH plaza.
Featuring the 2021 Asian American Music Society (AAMS) competition winners along with
George Mason University student performers, the January 29 Millennium Stage performance
will include performances of traditional classical repertoires of West to East highlighting
instrumentalists (Jasmine Flower String Quartet, Woodwind Ensemble, among others), as well
as AAMS’s Chamber Singers. Korean artists take the Millennium Stage on February 3 to share
performances composed of Korean creative music mixed with Korean traditional instruments
and Western instruments. K-Pop dancers will also collaborate on various music selections.
A full schedule of events follows:
REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: China
Supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America, the Chinese
American Museum, Washington, D.C.
Thursday, January 27 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Friday, January 28 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 29 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 30 4:00–9:00 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday, Jan. 31 & Feb. 1–2, the grounds are open for lantern viewing but food service may be
limited.
Outdoors at the REACH
FREE, no tickets required
In the first week of REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS, guests will enjoy interactive activities such as
photo opportunities with tiger and panda characters; writing and sending letters at the
Presidential Grove to pandas Bao Bao, Tai Shan, and Bei Bei, who are now in China; choose a new
year’s wish for 2022; REACH video wall projections; and Lunar New Year freebies such as tiger
masks, zodiac stickers, make your own pinwheel kits, and more. In addition, food trucks will be
located on the REACH plaza.
Asian American Music Society: Prelude to Lunar New Year Young Musicians Concert
Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Millennium Stage, Grand Foyer
FREE, no tickets required
The Asian American Music Society (AAMS) presents a showcase entitled Prelude to Lunar New
Year Young Musicians Concert. The performance features the 2021 Asian American Music Society
competition winners along with George Mason University student performers performing
traditional classical repertoires of West to East featuring instrumentalists (Jasmine Flower
String Quartet, Woodwind Ensemble & more), as well as AAMS’s Chamber Singers.
G – Hwaja: Sound of Korean Soul
Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Millennium Stage, Grand Foyer
FREE, no tickets required
Presented by the Korean Cultural Center, Korean artists take the stage to share performances
composed of Korean creative music mixed with Korean traditional instruments and Western
instruments. Such instruments include a haegeum (traditional Korean string instrument,
resembling a vertical fiddle with two strings); a janggu (an hourglass-shaped drum with two
sound boxes for percussion music); and gayageums (traditional Korean plucked zither with 12/25
strings); among others. Additionally, performances consisting of K-Pop dancers will collaborate
with a selection of the music.
REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: Korea
Supported by Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.
Thursday, February 3 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Friday, February 4 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 5 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 6 4:00–9:00 p.m.
Outdoors at the REACH
FREE, no tickets required
The second week of REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS brings a traditional Korean costume display
at the River Pavilion; photo opportunities with Korean mascot characters; choosing a new year’s
wish for 2022; REACH video wall projections; and Lunar New Year freebies such as fan and mask
coloring take home kits, tattoo stickers, Dock-Chee traditional game (as seen on Squid Game),
spinning tops, and more. In addition, food trucks will be located on the REACH plaza.
REACH Winter Lanterns
Presented in Collaboration with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment LLC
January 27–February 6, 2022
Outdoors at the REACH
On display nightly
FREE, no tickets required
The REACH glows with the return of approximately 100 stunning Winter Lanterns crafted by
Chinese artisans and made up of 10,000 colored LED lights, including the Panda Grove,
Mushroom Forest, Flower Path, Coral Reef, Flamingo Lagoon, and Butterfly Garden display.
Along with the beautiful lantern displays, visitors can enjoy food trucks and interactive activities
over two weekends (January 27–30 and February 3–6).
Funding Credits
David M. Rubenstein
Cornerstone of the REACH
REACH Winter Lanterns 2022 is presented in collaboration with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment
Group LLC
REACH Winter Lanterns Plus: CHINA is supported by the Embassy of the People's Republic of
China in the United States of America and The Chinese American Museum, Washington, D.C.
REACH Winter Lanterns Plus: Korea is supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
and Korean Cultural Center, Washington, D.C.
#KennedyCenter
PRESS CONTACTS
Brendan Padgett
bepadgett@kennedy-center.org
Brittany Laeger
balaeger@kennedy-center.org
