Pat Norikane Logerwell, a board trustee at Wing Luke Museum, high-fives a member of Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association dressed as Cai Shen, the God of Fortune. Photo by Patty Tang.
The Wing Luke Museum‘s annual community Lunar New Year celebration brought crowds to the Chinatown International District on January 31, 2026 to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse. Participants watched lion dances, participated in dragon dances, and celebrated in and around the Wing.
“The Year of the Fire Horse represents a period of new energy and transformation,” said Kamahanahokulani Farrar Law, Wing Luke Museum Interim Executive Director, in a statement. “This joyful, traditional celebration reminds us to acknowledge a changing world, embrace new challenges, and remain firmly grounded in serving our mission. We encourage our guests to face new opportunities with strength and courage in the year to come and we look forward to celebrating with them.”
The Wing Luke Museum has hosted a Lunar New Year Family Fair for the past 17 years. Historically, the Lunar New Year is held to honor ancestors, remove the bad and welcome good fortune. This year’s event was sponsored by ArtsFund, the Bellevue Collection, 4Culture, the International District Emergency Center, National Endowment for the Arts, and Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.
Wing Luke board members, staff, emcees, and community leaders pose with Mak Fai Kung Fu Club lion dancers displaying banners with Lunar New Year greetings. Photo by Patty Tang.
Families watch lion dancers perform during the Lunar New Year celebration. Photo by Patty Tang.Young performers take part in a dragon dance during the Wing Luke Museum’s Lunar New Year celebration. Photo by Patty Tang.Fire Chief Harold D. Scoggins of the Seattle Fire Department and a lion dancer bow to each other during the lion dance performance. Photo by Patty Tang.A child reaches out to touch the fur of a lion dancer, wearing earmuffs to block the noise of the loud performance. Photo by Patty Tang.Brooke Samaha smiles at her photo and quote displayed in Wing Luke Museum’s new “KidPLACE New Years All Year Round” 2026 exhibit alongside her sister, Laurel, and mother, Christina Samaha. This exhibit features community-submitted photos and stories of how people celebrate the New Year across cultures. Photo by Patty Tang.Lion dancers from Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association perform outside Wing Luke Museum as part of the Lunar New Year festivities. Photo by Patty Tang.Lion dancers from Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association perform outside Wing Luke Museum as part of the Lunar New Year festivities. Photo by Patty Tang.
