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10 Ways to Celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC

Ring in the year of the snake with Lunar New Year celebrations across New York City!

10 Ways to Celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC
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Lunar New Year celebrations will erupt across New York City this week as revelers welcome the Year of the Snake! The holiday, which falls on January 29th this year, marks the start of the lunisolar calendar and the beginning of spring. Lunar New Year is the biggest celebration of the year in China—known there as the Spring Festival—and the festivities have spread across the globe. Here in New York City, people take to the streets for parades with colorful lanterns and lion dancers, and public school kids get the day off! Check out unique ways to celebrate:

1. Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival

On January 29th from 11:00am until 3:30pm Better Chinatown USA will host a Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival at Sara D. Roosevelt Park (at Chrystie and Grand Streets) complete with performances and street vendors. Firecrackers and the color red are traditionally meant to scare away evil spirits! Festivities continue on February 16th with the annual Lunar New Year Parade which starts at 1:00pm on Mott Street.

2. Lunar New Year Fair at Gotham Park

Photo by Jeff Young

A long-closed public space below the Manhattan landing of the Brooklyn Bridge will be activated for the Lunar New Year Fair February 7th through the 9th. The fair at Gotham Park will feature unique vendors and activities such as a paper lantern workshop (Sunday, February 9, from 1-3 PM). Seventeen local vendors, from Anna Ye Tea to art brand The Bao Bae, will have goods for sale. Learn more details here!

3. Lucky New Year Group Art Exhibit

On February 1st from 12pm to 4pm, mingle with artists participating in the group exhibition Lucky New Year at Stanley’s Claw Machines at 60 Mulberry Street. The show is curated by @miiasoey and features sixteen different artists. Each creator was tasked with making work about tangerines, a popular part of Lunar New Year celebrations. The citrus fruits are associated with good luck and happiness. On February 1st, visitors can peruse the art, meet the artists, play on the claw machines and win prizes!

4. Bai Nian and More at Think!Chinatown

"Bai Nian" means "to pay a visit." This Lunar New Year tradition entails visiting family and friends to offer greetings and wishes of good luck. On Sunday, February 2nd, guests are invited to share greetings, chat over prosperity tray goodies, and sip on freshly brewed tea at Think!Chinatown Studio, 1 Pike Place. Lunar New Year decorations crafted by calligraphy artist Master Lei will be on sale and participants can join In Our Corner curator Sophia Ma for exhibit tours. Guest are invited to bring something to share like lucky fruits or a red envelope donation in keeping with Lunar New Year traditions. You can RSVP here.

Think!Chinatown is hosting a full line up of Lunar New Year activities, from a mahjong party to a lantern unveiling. See the calendar of upcoming events here!

5. Lunar New Year Kids Day

Welcome to Chinatown invites families to their hub at 115 Bowery for a day bursting with activities for the young ones. This free event on January 29th will feature story time with Gordon & Li Li, crafts like block printing with hand-carved prints by Emily B Yang and calligraphy painting with Bo and Mei (ALL DAY), and coloring activities. Children's books, toys and gifts from Gemma & Friends are available for purchase. Learn more about this event here!

6. Lunar New Year Parade

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A post shared by 洪青 NYCFMAC (@ny.chinesefreemasons)

On January 29th, New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club (CFMAC) will host a Lion Dance parade through the heart of Chinatown. The parade route starts at the Athletic Club on Canal Street around 10:30 AM and winds its way through the neighborhood, typically covering the area between Canal Street to the north, Worth Street and Chatham Square to the south, Baxter Street to the west, and Bowery to the east.

Along the route, businesses wishing to receive a performance often prepare offerings of lettuce and oranges or red envelope as a token of appreciation. They may also test the lion's skills with "puzzles" or "challenges."

CFMAC will also host a lion dance parade on February 8th, known as Super Saturday!

7. Celebrate at the Seaport

Courtesy of Mike Szpot, Seaport Entertainment Group

On February 1 from 11am to 5pm head to the South Street Seaport for a free neighborhood celebration which includes free General Admission to the Seaport Museum. The day will also include lively lion dance performances, Chinese Calligraphy workshops, and maritime-inspired craft activities presented in collaboration with the New York Chinese Cultural Center. Learn more here.

8. Lunar New Year in the Garden

On Saturday, February 8, 12pm to 4pm the Queens Botanical Garden will come alive with lion dances, cultural performances, arts and crafts, and a vendors fair. Food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be available. Register here!

9. Model Majority Lunar New Year Comedy Show

New York City's acclaimed all Asian American Pacific Islander sketch comedy team will celebrate Lunar New Year with a night of snake-filled sketch comedy, music, special guests, drink specials and Asian treats at Caveat. Guests are encouraged to dress festively in red and gold clothing. Grab tickets here!

10. Lion Dance at Industry City

Photo Courtesy of Industry City

Watch a lion dance wind its way through Industry City from the Box Tower in Courtyard 3/4 across Innovation Alley. The figure will bestow blessings upon the businesses in the complex on Friday, January 31st from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

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