January 31, 2026 10:00AM-4:00PM Culturefest! Lunar New Year at Penn Museum

 

Ring in the Year of the Horse at our 45th annual Lunar New Year celebration. Bring the whole family to experience vibrant Asian traditions during a full day of festivities, including storytelling, artmaking, live music and dance performances, and a traditional Lion Dance finale.

Lunar New Year is observed by various Asian communities, including those of Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tibetan descent. The festivities traditionally commence with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and conclude 15 days later on the first full moon. Originating as a time for respite from agricultural work and togetherness with loved ones, Lunar New Year incorporates customs such as feasts, gift exchanges, lantern lighting, and offerings to deities and ancestors.

Tickets: $14 - $23

Penn Museum

3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

---

215.898.4000

February 6, 2026 8:00-10:00PM African Friends: Bakithi Kumalo, Tanyaradzwa Tawengwa, and Youba Cissokho at The Fallser Club

 

African Friends: A chance meeting developed into a deep friendship and a beautiful musical partnership. 

This five-piece band will warm your heart and get your feet moving.

Tanyaradzwa is a visionary leader committed to African liberation. She is a scholar, healer, composer, singer, and Zimbabwean gwenyambira (mbira player)

She holds a Doctorate of Music in Voice Performance,  a Master of Music in Voice Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition (cum laude) with minors in Voice Performance and French.

Bassist Bakithi presents a joyful musical journey from the Roots and Rhythms of South Africa. Bakithi Kumalo always brings the most talented artists together for the ultimate musical experience that promises to move you in multiple ways.  He has just completed a US tour with his lifelong friend, Paul Simon.

YOUBA CISSOKHO plays the kora, a type of harp made from a calabash gourd. West African kings commissioned the kora to recount songs of folklore and love.

Abou “Lion” Diarra is a Malian musician known as a master of the n’goni, a traditional Malian harp-guitar, who blends traditional sounds with modern influences like blues, jazz, and reggae. He has also worked as a drummer, performing with notable musicians and creating music for theatre. His journey began in West Africa, traveling between cities like Abidjan and Bamako, and he is celebrated for his innovative playing style and his ability to use the n’goni as a guitar, bass, or even a drum. 

Born in Los Angeles and residing in New York City, Victor Gould began playing piano at the young age of four. Gould began his career as one of the first ever recipients of the Herbie Hancock Presidential Scholarship at Berklee College of Music. After completing his bachelor’s degree there, Gould studied at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at Loyola University, where he received a Master’s in Music.

Tickets $20 + $2.07 fee online, $25 at the door  (online tickets end at 6:30 on the day of the show)

The Fallser Club

3721 Midvale Ave

Philadelphia, Pa  19129