Get Out! It's Nowruz, Persian New Year Festival at National Museum of Asian Art, Sunday, March 16, 11am-4pm

by Peggy Robin

Nowruz Family Festival at NMAA

Sunday, March 16, 2025

11:00 am–4:00 pm

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art

National Museum of Asian Art

1050 Independence Avenue SW

Honor the new year at our annual Nowruz Family Day. Come dressed in your Nowruz best and welcome spring with free attractions for all ages, including storytelling, hands-on activities, and more. Persian sweets and food will be available for purchase. Learn about Nowruz.

View Event Details

Register in advance to make sure you get the best experience. Some activities have a limited capacity, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis.

A note about construction and accessibility: The 12th St. sidewalk that runs north and south between Jefferson Dr. and Independence Ave. will be closed due to construction. We encourage you to use the Enid A. Haupt Garden to get from Independence Ave. to Jefferson Dr., and vice versa. Find more accessibility details.

Performances

All performance locations have limited capacity, and access will not be allowed once capacity is reached.

• Storytelling with Xanthe
  
  Ripley Center, Discovery Theater, level B3
  
  12:30, 2:00, and 3:30 p.m.
  
• Musical Performances by Kimia Hesabi and Erin Murphy Snedecor
  
  West Building, Meyer Auditorium, level G
  
  12:45, 2:00, and 3:45 p.m.
  

Activities

Special thanks to Gandomak Children Persian School and our backgammon community players.

• Haft Sin Table
  
  

  West Building, North Lobby
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Haft Sin Table
  
  East Building, Gallery 30
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Scavenger Hunt and Storybook Reading
  
  West Building, Galleries 3 and 4
  
  11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  
• Wish Tree
  
  West Building, South Corridor
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Backgammon and Chess
  
  West Building, South Corridor
  
  12–3 p.m.
  
• Calligraphy by Alibaba Awrang
  
  East Building, B1 Lobby
  
  11 a.m.–1 p.m. and  2–4 p.m.
  

Crafts

Special thanks to Iranian Community School, FarsiSpeakingKids, Gandomak Children Persian School, and Nina Mortazavi.

• Postcard and Nasir al-Mulk Mosque Suncatcher Craft by Gandomak School
  
  West Building, Freer Conference Room, level GR
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Threads of Iran: Regional Clothing Craft by Nina Mortazavi
  
  East Building, Gallery 27
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Printing in Persian: Linocut Printmaking with Kucheh Art Studio + Shop
  
  East Building, Gallery 27
  
  11 a.m.-4 p.m
  
• Hyacinth Craft by Iranian Community School/FarsiSpeakingKids
  
  East Building, ImaginAsia Classroom, level B2
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Haft Sin Coloring
  
  West Building, North Corridor
  
  11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  
• Haft Sin Coloring with Iranian Community School/FarsiSpeakingKids
  
  East Building, Gallery 30
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  

Tours and Talks

• Docent-Led Spotlight Talks
  
  West Building, Galleries 3–4
  
  1–2 p.m., 2–3 p.m., 3–4 p.m.
  
• Docent-Led Spotlight Talks
  
  West Building, Gallery 12
  
  1–2 p.m., 2–3 p.m., 3–4 p.m.
  
• Tours with Curator Antonietta Catanzariti
  
  East Building, Gallery 21
  
  1–2 p.m. and 2:30–3:30 p.m.
  

Food for Sale

Sales until supplies last. Lines for food vendors end at 3:30 p.m.

• Moby Dick
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3037
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• KooKoo DC
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3035
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• Kandu Pastry
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3037
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• The Persian Table
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3031
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• Afghan Chai
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3031
  
  12–4 p.m.
  

More information: https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/celebrations/nowruz/

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The "Get Out" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.