Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration

Saturday, March 16, 11 am–5 pm
Freer Gallery of Art
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
International Gallery and S. Dillon Ripley Center

A festive day awaits at the fifth annual Nowruz celebration of the Persian New Year. This year, the daylong festival coincides with the United States debut of one of the world’s iconic objects from the ancient world, the Cyrus Cylinder. On loan from the British Museum in London, the Cylinder is on view in Washington for only seven weeks (March 9–April 28) before it goes on national tour.

The Nowruz celebration features entertaining programs for all ages, including:

• Haft Sin table displays
• "Fire" jumping
• Shahnama stories by Xanthe Gresham
• Performances by the Nomad Dancers
• Live Persian music by Mamek Khadem’s new ensemble [free tickets required]
• Recently digitized photographs of Iran by photographer Antoin Sevruguin (1840s–1933)
• ImaginAsia family activities
• Chess and backgammon games
• Traditional Persian food

Download a copy of the 2013 Nowruz Event Schedule.

Road Closures for Saturday, March 16: Roads around the National Mall and downtown Washington will be closed due to a morning marathon. They are expected to reopen by 2 pm. Visitors are encouraged to take Metro either to the Smithsonian (Orange and Blue line) or L’Enfant Plaza (Yellow, Green, Orange, and Blue line) stations. Read more about the marathon route on the event’s website.

The event is made possible by a generous grant from Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar