Celebrate Lunar New Year: The Year of the Snake at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum will host the Pikes Peak regional celebration of the Lunar New Year with our partners Refugees + Immigrants United and Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado on Saturday, January 18 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. This event is free, but pre-registration is encouraged at https://www.cspm.org/events/lunarnewyear2025/.

"As a Vietnamese refugee, Lunar New Year, or Tết, has always been more than a holiday-it is a lifeline to my ancestors, my homeland, and my identity. It is a time of renewal, gratitude, and connection. In Colorado, I watched my parents quietly struggle to preserve our traditions while rebuilding their lives in a foreign land. Their unwavering perseverance and efforts to keep Tết alive in our modest home were a powerful reminder of who we are, even in the face of hardship.

This year, I reflect with pride and gratitude. On June 2, 2023, Governor Jared Polis signed HB23-1271 into law, making Colorado the second state to officially recognize Lunar New Year as a state holiday. As the founder and chair of Lunar New Year Allies Advisory Group (LUNA), the team that led this effort, this victory is not just for my Vietnamese community, but for all Asian American communities in Colorado. It's a testament to our resilience, contributions, and rich culture."

- Excerpt from Lunar New Year: From Family Traditions to Statewide Recognition guest article by Nga Vương-Sandoval, Founder and President for Refugees + Immigrants United. To see the full article, please visit https://www.cspm.org/articles/lunar-new-year/.

On Sat., Jan. 18, guests are invited to celebrate at this family-friendly event with performances, crafts, and activity booths presented by local organizations, including:

• Múa Lân/ Lion Dance and  Điệu Múa Văn Hóa / Cultural Dances presented by the Buddhist Youth Association
• Presentation by Nga Vương-Sandoval, Founder and Executive Director of Refugees + Immigrants United
• Cultural Dances presented by Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado

To uplift the cultural richness of this event and our community, attendees are warmly encouraged to wear traditional attire from their country of origin.