NYC Free: Lunar New Year Celebrations

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Welcome the Year of the Dog. Celebrate the Lunar New Year in New York City at one or more of these FREE and cheap family-friendly events.

You don’t have to be Chinese to enjoy the fun and festivities.  Wearing traditional red and gold is encouraged, for good luck.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Chinese New Year Celebration –

Families with children can participate in storytelling, crafts, traditional refreshments and a parade to the NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden complete with cymbals, drums, and pop-it firecrackers scare off evil spirits. Adults only can participate in an immersive cultural celebration with workshops in Chinese calligraphy, ink wash painting, chun lian writing, and shan shui (mountain painting), plus tours of the NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden and adult refreshments. 

2pm to 4pm at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanic Garden in Staten Island.  Tickets are $10 adults and $5 kids 2 years and older. 

• Buy tickets here

Lunar New Year Plants Tour –

Celebrate the Year of the Dog at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with a walk through the Steinhardt Conservatory, discovering Asian fruits and plants associated with the Lunar New Year, including citrus, bamboo and ginger. Tour is free with admission, 11am to Noon.

Madison Street to Madison Avenue Lunar New Year Celebration –

Join 50 Madison Avenue retailers in this unprecedented opportunity to shop with your dog and support the work of The Animal Medical Center, which is dedicated to providing compassionate and collaborative care to animals and to leading the advancement of veterinary medicine through innovative clinical research and education.

There will be FREE family and dog-friendly activities on Madison Avenue at East 54th Street, including face painting, calligraphy, a lunar new year-themed photo booth, and a special Animal Medical Center doggy-health tent and performances in the Harman Store, 527 Madison Ave. 

Participants are encouraged to attend with their dogs.  A portion of participating retailer’s sales will be donated to the Animal Medical Center.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Lunar New Year for Kids Celebration – 

Celebrate the Lunar New Year public school holiday with a free day of fun. Activities include storytelling, snacks, games, crafts including a paper lantern making workshop, and a Chinese acrobat.  FREE at the China Institute in Lower Manhattan, 10am to 1pm. 

Registration recommended to ensure space.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Winter Garden at Brookfield Place –

Professional artists from the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC) present traditional Chinese performances including Shaolin Kung Fu demonstrations, Chinese drumming, Chinese acrobatics, as well as traditional Chinese music and dances.

The performances kick off with a dynamic Lion Dance throughout Brookfield Place. 2pm to 3:15pm. FREE

Lunar New Year Parade and Reception –

Flushing has one of NYC’s largest Asian communities, and also one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations. Enjoy the parade, with performances by local dance and music groups.  The parade starts at Union St. and 37th Ave. at 11am, marching to the Queens Crossing shopping center. 

There’s also a FREE pre-parade reception, open to all, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 135-32 38th Avenue, 9:30am to 10:30am.  Both events are sponsored by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. Registration is recommended for the reception, to ensure space.

Sunday, February 25, 2018