Kids will get the chance to meet a real snake, like this red-tailed boa constrictor, at the Queens Zoo's Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 9 and 10. View Full Caption The Wildlife Conservation Society

QUEENS — Slither into the new year.

The Queens Zoo is celebrating the 2013 Lunar New Year with a snake "meet-and-greet" on Feb. 9 and 10.

Families will have the opportunity to view a boa constrictor and a black rat snake as part of the Wildlife Conservation Society's "year of the snake" event from noon to 4 p.m. on both dates.

The weekend at the Queens Zoo will also feature a variety of activities in the Discovery Center, a children's activity room in the zoo, including snake- and new-year-themed craft time and snake-themed storytelling by zoo education staff.

Story time is at 1 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day, and will be followed by a meeting with one of the snakes. Zoo staff will discuss fun facts about snakes, and about the meaning of the Chinese zodiac.

Admission to the zoo is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12 and free for children under 3. The first 100 children each day will receive a surprise gift.