GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) invites the community to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a series of events for all ages.
On Feb. 14, the programs will honor traditions from China, Korea, Vietnam and other Asian cultures.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at three separate branches, community members can participate in a free immersive cultural experience through family-friendly festivities.
GRPL partnered with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation on the 2026 event. Also known as Chinese New Year, the holiday is based on the ancient Chinese lunisolar calendar, which combines the moon’s cycles and the Earth’s orbit around the sun, according to the astronomy site EarthSky.
Each new year in this calendar is assigned an animal based on the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
Each zodiac animal is believed to hint at the personalities of those born during that year. For 2026, it’s the Year of the Horse, the representative of heroes and talents.
The Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 17, coinciding with the date of the February new moon in Beijing. That day will close out the previous year, the Year of the Wood Snake, and usher in the Year of the Horse.
People born in the year of the horse will share some similarities with the horse, and thus, they are brave, strong, talented and independent, according to TravelChinaGuide.
Lunar New Year’s Eve typically kicks off with feasts and fireworks, and the days that follow include parades, performances, ceremonies, gifts and traditional dishes.
After two weeks, the celebrations end with a lantern festival on the night of the full moon.
For the Grand Rapids area, locals and visitors are welcome to celebrate the special day on Feb. 14 with free family-friendly activities at the following GRPL branches:
- Main Library, 111 Library St. NE.
- Seymour Branch, 2350 Eastern Ave. SE.
- Yankee Clipper Branch, 2025 Leonard St. NE. The Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation will be in attendance at this location.
