The more adventurous and hands-on guests had the opportunity to pet some live snakes that were brought in as a symbol of the Year of the Snake. They could touch and feel the snake and Komodo dragon skins on display, or otherwise engage in some paper cutting and other crafts with their children.
But besides all the things to see and do, museum-goers also got to talk to Chinese artists who were showcasing their work at the event.
Ken Chui, a Chinese calligrapher, said it's a perfect opportunity for him to spread the craft and get more people interested in the Chinese culture.
"We want to show foreigners our culture. Calligraphy is an integral part of our culture, I hope they can learn more about our culture this way," he said. "Calligraphy is a very healthy form of art. When we write, our body is relaxed, it's very comfortable."
Besides having a variety of exhibits and performances, Carding believes the best way to pique people's interest is by encouraging discussion and conversation.
"The ROM is all about people, our collections are wonderful in their own right, they're wonderful and delightful to look at, but they really come to life when people can tell their story," she said.
"And so what we're seeing in the ROM today are families coming in, looking at our Chinese collections, taking part in the programs, the dance, the ceremony, and it's giving them a whole different perspective on what it is to perhaps have a Chinese heritage."
While there were many Chinese guests in attendance, the event also attracted a number of Canadians who had stumbled into the event coincidentally. Jeff Cutler initially brought his family to the ROM to see the dinosaur exhibit, but was drawn in by all the performances onstage.
"It's been really fun, we're going to watch some dancing and we know there's some music," he said. "It's very interesting to see something new, and I know they have a Chinese portion of the museum, and that we find really interesting, so for us, it was just all new, we're just taking it in as it goes."
And for others, it was a chance for them to instill some Chinese culture in the younger generation. To help his two half-Chinese children understand their culture, Jesse Elve brought his kids to watch some Kung-fu movies and see the live snake display to pique their interests and get them excited about their heritage.
"They're half-Chinese, so we're always trying to teach them about being Chinese," said Elve.
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