Lunar New Year at the Zoo

Houston Zoo is hosting its first-ever Lunar New Year celebration on February 14-15. During this special weekend guests will welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with themed Keeper Chats, dragon dancer performances and exploring the Zoo to learn more about Asian animals like the Malayan tiger, orangutans, and Asian elephants. The event embraces cultural diversity, honors tradition and celebrates community while spotlighting the remarkable wildlife from the region.
Throughout the weekend, guests will enjoy dragon and lion dance performances, participate in the Wishing Tree, where guests can share their hopes and intentions for the year ahead, and a dragon and cherry blossom photo op. Meet the Keeper Chats, presented by CenterPoint Energy, will highlight Asian animals at the Zoo and take home a plant during the plant giveaway. Activities are included with general Zoo admission, and free for members.

Meet the Keeper Chats Schedule
10:00 a.m. – Reptile & Amphibian House
10:30 a.m. – Masai Giraffe
11:30 a.m. – Malayan Tiger
12:00 p.m. – Schmidt’s red-tailed monkey in Wortham World of Primates (WWP)
1:30 p.m. – Humboldt penguins
2:00 p.m. – Kunekune pigs in the Children’s Zoo
3:00 p.m. – Patas Monkey in Wortham World of Primates (WWP)
Our Meet the Keeper Chats on these two days will be Lunar New Year-themed.