How to Celebrate Lunar New Year in New York
How to Celebrate Lunar New Year in New York
Second to being in China, New York is one of the world’s best cities to ring in the Lunar New Year. From elaborate street parades and festive concerts to the ultimate pampering session, here's where to go, what to see and how to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit in the Big Apple.
Street Parades and Festivals
It’s no surprise that Chinatown is ground zero for all the action during the two-week Lunar New Year period, but if you only were to choose one day to visit, make it the 12th Feb when the famous Chinese New Year Parade takes place. This elaborate procession of dragon dancers, floats and performers weaving their way around Chinatown and Little Italy begins at Mott Street around lunchtime. Expect bustle, friendly hustle and plenty of delicious eats along the way.
Alternatively, register online (and prepare to schlep to Queens) to join in the Flushing Lunar New Year Parade, an even filled with vibrant costumes, floats, dancing and traditional Chinese celebrations. Start off with a warm-up reception of coffee and doughnuts with the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce from 9:30 to 10:30am
Back in Manhattan, the Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival welcomes in the year of the boar with a boisterous chorus of crackers, backdropped by craft-food stalls held in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. According to tradition, the more dumplings you eat, the more prosperous your year will be.
Festive Performances
Celebrating its auspicious eighth birthday, the New York Philharmonic: Lunar New Year Concert is a joy for those tuned in to the likes of Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Oscar-winning violin maestro Tan Dun. Likewise, the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Carnegie Hall is a visual and auditory highlight, this year’s performance stars Chinese pianist Jie Chen, and Shanghai soprano Quan Chen, tenor Dr. William Weimin Cai and American violinist Deni Bonet.
New Year, New You
If that all seems too much faff, you need not stray far as The Peninsula is hosting special CNY menus (9-31 Jan) and a traditional Lion Dance on 22nd January. Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Chinese New Year Parade / starts at Mott and Canal Streets / 1-4.30pm, 12 Feb / betterchinatown.com
Flushing Lunar New Year Parade / St George’s Church / 135-32 38th Ave / Flushing / Queens / 9.30–10.30am, 21 Feb / eventbrite.com
Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival / Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Chrystie St to Forsyth St / 11am, 22 Feb / betterchinatown.com
The Peninsula New York Chinese New Year / peninsula.com/en/new-york/special-offers/dining/cny-2023