
Wednesday, January 29th marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake–more specifically the Wood Snake.
The sign of the snake is a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and personal growth in Chinese culture, and those born in a year of the snake are believed to be intelligent, deeper thinkers with natural charm.
And with the Lunar New Year comes all the exciting events that take place across New York City to celebrate this monumental time! Here are exciting ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in NYC this year:
1. Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
Chinatown’s 27th annual Lunar New Year Parade is back and better than ever with dragon dancing, amazing outfits, martial art performers, and more! Taking place on Sunday, February 16th, the parade will kick off at 1 pm and head down Mott and Canal streets ending at Grand Street near the Sara D. Roosevelt Park.
Learn all about it here.
Where: Mott and Canal streets, Chinatown
When: February 16th, 1 pm
2. Lunar New Year Celebration at Queens Botanical Garden
Head over to Queens Botanical Garden to celebrate the Year of the Snake on February 8th! The celebration will consist of a lion dance performance, tai chi, kung fu, face changing, folk dance, crafts, story time, and much more! Admission is free (with a suggested $5 donation) and event parking is $15. Register online for the event via their website here.
Where: 43-50 Main St, Queens
When: February 8th, 12 – 4 pm
3. Lunar New Year Celebration at Lincoln Center
Stop by Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall to enjoy a Lunar New Year party that features lion dance performance on Josie Robertson Plaza and Storytime with Ashley Chang and Jeffrey Chan of The ABC Digest, live performances, delicious goodies, interactive activities, and so much more.
The event is totally FREE and family-friendly! Learn more about the celebration here!
Where: David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center (10 Lincoln Center Plaza)
When: February 1st, 10 am – 3 pm
4. Spring Festival: Lunar New Year at Avant Gardner
Pulse Events’ Spring Festival will return in 2025 for a full venue takeover to celebrate Lunar New Year. For three nights (January 30th, 31st, February 1st), you can catch incredible performances from electronic music superstars ILLENIUM, DJ Deisel, and DJ Snake, respectively. Supporting artists include progressive house artist Audien, dubstep artist Space Laces, rising American-Taiwanese superstar JVNA, and more! Learn more about the shows and grab tickets here.
Where: Avant Gardner (140 Stewart Ave, Brooklyn)
When: January 30th, 31st + February 1st (10 pm – 4 am)
5. Lunar New Year at Hudson Yards
In partnership with the New York Chinese Cultural Center, The Shops at Hudson Yards will showcase a series of Lunar New Year celebrations including cultural performances and traditional decorations. There will also be special offers to shop including limited-edition capsule collections and special offers at Ray-Ban, Marc Jacobs, Sundays Nail Salon, Tory Burch and more.
Traditional lion dances and ribbon twirling performances will happen every (1/18, 1/25, 2/1) at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm. Also, shoppers who spend $188 or more and receive a complimentary pair of Hudson Yards chopsticks and $588 or more receive a lucky red envelope from The Golden Tree.
Learn more at their website here.
Where: 20 Hudson Yards
When: January 17th – February 9th
6. LIC Partnership: LIC Lunar New Year Celebration 2024
The LIC Lunar New Year Celebration is returning with a month’s worth of promotions and events from 80+ local businesses and organizations. Activities and promotions range from traditional red envelope surprise giveaways to special menus and cocktails, to family-friendly activities and workshops. Stay tuned for this year’s events and promotions here.
Where: Long Island City
When: January – February 2025
7. Downtown Brooklyn Lunar New Year 2025 Celebration
There will be tons of Lunar New Year festivities happening in Downtown Brooklyn this year, including a traditional Lion Dances, music from DJ Boogie, and more to be announced! Stay tuned for more information on this year’s free event here.
Where: Albee Square (Corner of Fulton & Bond Streets)
When: February 1st, 1 – 4 pm
8. Lunar New Year Festival at The Met
Celebrate the Year of the Snake at The Met with a super fun event featuring live performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for all ages. The celebration is completely free and no registration required. Plus, there will also be museum volunteer guides on site for gallery chats in Mandarin, English, Spanish, and Korean! Learn more about the event and stay tuned for the full schedule of events here.
Where: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
When: January 25th, 12 – 5 pm
9. Think!Chinatown Lunar New Year events
Local non-profit Think!Chinatown is hosting a ton of Lunar New Year workshops and parties to celebrate the prosperous Year of the Wood Dragon. Check out some of the events below!
- LNY Papercut Decorations w/ Artist-in-Residence Ling Tang (1/26): Traditional Chinese folk arts and crafts workshop
- Lunar New Year Lantern Reveal (1/29): Lion dancing, confetti, and the annual reveal of the annual Lantern Artist-in-Residency project
- Super Saturday Lantern Celeberation (2/18): Lantern parade, lion dances, confetti, and more
- Mahjong Party (2/16): Play Mahjong with friends and neighbors
10. Lunar New Year at the Mandarin Oriental
Head to the Mandarin Oriental this Lunar New Year for a rage of happenings that include festive decorations, lion dance performances, festive dinner menus, and more.
Where: Mandarin Oriental – 80 Columbus Circle
When: January 31st
11. Chinese New Year Celebration at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
This family-friendly event at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is set to include performances, treats, tales, and traditional crafts! This year’s programming is partnered with Chinese Theatre Works, Inc, so expect hand puppet performances and puppetry workshops too.
Admission is $20 for the event and you can learn more about the event here!
Where: Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art at Snug Harbor – Building C
When: January 25th, 11:30 am – 4 pm
12. Lunar New Year at Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall’s events for Lunar New Year are some of Queen’s best celebratory events ringing in the Year of the Snake. Over the course of a month (January 18th – February 23rd), they’ll be hosting tons of programming including a shadow puppetry exhibition and performance by Queens-based Chinese Theatre Works, a family sing-along performance by Elena Moon Park & Friends, and concerts blending global musical traditions.
Where: Flushing Town Hall
When: January 18th – February 23rd
13. Lunar New Year Gala at the New York Philharmonic
Renowned symphony orchestra New York Philharmonic is hosting a Lunar New Year event, honoring Chinese-American philanthropist Angela Chen. The cocktail, concert, and following dinner will be to celebrate cultural heritage, new beginnings, and music’s capacity to transcend borders. Learn more about the event here.
Where: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
When: February 11th, 5:30 pm
14. Lunar New Year-inspired menus around NYC
Many restaurants are celebrating the Lunar New Year by offering special menu items, and they’re definitely too good to miss out on! Some restaurants include:
- Chinese Tuxedo – Hong Kong style sweet & sour prawns, red bean jian dui (rice balls) with roasted chestnut puree (5 Doyers St)
- Din Tai Fung – Seaweed and beancurd salad, Shanghai rice cakes, shrimp fried rice (1633 Broadway)
- Kings Co Imperial – Ocean Wealth Imperial spring rools, pork moneybags, Snake Bite cocktail (20 Skillman Ave, Brooklyn)
- NIN HAO – Steamed buns, oyster cakes, lychee meat, stir-fried meat noodles, shrimp wonton balls (609 Dean St, Brooklyn)
15. Lunar New Year Celebration at The Seaport
The Seaport is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration combining tradition, learning, and fun activities! Start at the Tin Building’s House of the Red Pearl restaurant to try out Chinese-inspired dishes like Spicy Marinated Cucumbers, Ginger Fried Rice, and Roast Duck. Then, check out lion dancers outside the Tin Building and head to the Seaport Museum for Chinese calligraphy workshops!
Where: The Seaport (96 South St)
When: February 1st
16. Lunar New Year Extravaganza at Chelsea Market
Pearl River Mart’s annual Lunar New Year celebration will once again take place at Chelsea Market!
Head to the main concourse for a show-stopping performances by renowned lion dance troupe Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team as well as ribbon dancing from the New York Chinese Cultural Center. Then make your way to the lower level for food specials from Pearl River Mart Foods’ vendors, mahjong, and more Lunar New Year activities.
Learn more on their website here.
Where: Chelsea Market – 15th and 16th Streets (between 9th and 10th Ave)
When: February 9th, 11:30 am – 5 pm
17. Lunar New Year at The Red Pavilion
Bushwick’s Asian neo noir nightclub The Red Pavilion is hosting a pair of AAPI performances to celebrate Lunar New Year on January 29th and 31st! The first event on 1/29 will be free and hosted by AAPI creative community group Asians for ADCOLOR and feature “good people, clippable performances, and mischievous drinks.” The second event on 1/31 is appropriately titled “Red Lantern District”…a sex-positive dance party featuring Felicia Oh, Kekoa and Kanika Peach, along with drag performances, audience games, and special guest Persephone Von Lips with music by DJ Manila Ice. Tickets range from $15-$25.
Learn more on their website here.
Where: The Red Pavilion – 1241 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn
When: January 29th & 31st
18. Lunar New Year at The Peninsula
The Peninsula is hosting some Lunar New Year celebrations this year, kicking off with a traditional lion dance celebration in the hotel lobby on January 29th at 9:30 am! Plus, the hotel’s restaurant Clement is serving a festive menu from January 27th – 31st featuring dim sum, steamed sea bass, longevity noodles, poached chicken, and dessert. The special feast is $88! Learn more about the festivities and book a table here.
Where: The Peninsula – 700 Fifth Avenue at 55th St
When: January 29th (lion dance), January 27th – 31st (LNY menu at Clement)
19. Lunar New Year Fair at a formerly abandoned NYC Park
A festive Lunar New Year Fair is bringing Chinatown’s vibrant traditions to a newly reopened public space, which has been closed to the public for over a decade! At the free weekend fair, visitors can shop, eat, play, and celebrate all things pertaining to the Year of the Snake! More info and a peek at vendors can be found here.
Where: Gotham Park – at Rose St and Avenue of the Finest
When: Friday, February 7th through Sunday, February 9th
20. Lunar New Year at The Oculus
Stop by The Oculus in Lower Manhattan throughout Lunar New Year week and check out a new public art installation celebrating Year of the Snake! Danielle Chang, founder of LUCKYRICE, has teamed up with internationally-renowned artist Warren King and architects Richard Gluckman and Andrew Weigand to create a work that New Yorkers can interact with using a QR code. Once you scan the code, you can interact and control movements of an animated overlay of a snake. It’s on display through February 12th.
Where: World Trade Center Oculus