Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in New York City
Events at Asia Society and around NYC
Here at Asia Society, we’re getting ready to celebrate the Year of the Snake! Join us at Lunar New Year Family Day or Leo Bar Happy Hour, or check out any of these Lunar New Year events around New York City.
When is Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year is, unsurprisingly, governed by the lunar calendar. The last day of the Year of the Dragon falls on January 28, 2025. The Year of the Snake starts on January 29, 2025, the first new moon of the new lunar year. In most countries where Lunar New Year is celebrated, the festivities last for two weeks, until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year. This year, the Lantern Festival falls on February 12, 2025.
What is this year’s Lunar New Year Chinese zodiac animal?
2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. The Chinese zodiac cycle consists of 12 animals and five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and fire. The Year of the Wood Snake occurs every 60 years. People born in the year of the snake are said to be particularly strong willed and determined, while the element of wood is associated with imagination and creativity.
Where to see the Lunar New Year parades
The official Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade starts at 1 p.m. on February 16, 2025. On January 29, the New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club organizes a Chinese New Year's Day Parade starting at 10:30 a.m. Flushing Chinatown's parade is on February 1, and Sunset Park Chinatown's parade falls on February 9.
Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC for kids and families
We hope to see you on January 25 for Asia Society’s Lunar New Year Family Day!
Grassroots Chinatown community organization Think!Chinatown has planned a diverse slate of Lunar New Year celebrations and activities over the entire span of the holiday.
Embrace the spirit of the Year of the Snake through the power of dance in a family dance performance from the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.
In Brooklyn, check out the Brooklyn Museum’s Weekend Art Hang and Lunar New Year at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
In Lower Manhattan and Chinatown, institutes like the Museum of Chinese in America have a full slate of events, including the Lunar New Year Family Festival, story time with author Michele Wong McSween, and much more. Lunar New Year at the Seaport Museum includes a lion dance, calligraphy workshop, and make-your-own nautical lion chains. China Institute’s Lunar New Year spectacular features an immersive pop-up experience of Prince Kung’s palace, myriad traditional craft workshops, and much more.
The Queens Botanical Garden, Snug Harbor, The Met Museum, King Manor Museum, and Flushing Town Hall are also hosting various family-friendly events.
Where to shop for Lunar New Year gifts
Besides red envelopes filled with cash (or if you need to purchase red envelopes for giving cash), both Hana House and Welcome to Chinatown are hosting Lunar New Year markets featuring a variety of AAPI vendors and their holiday-themed gifts.
The sixth edition of From Chinatown, With Love is happening now! A project that honors Manhattan’s Chinatown and its beloved small businesses from Abrons Arts Center, lucky risograph, Midnight Project, and The W.O.W. Project, anyone who spends $35 or more at participating businesses will receive a pack of 5 red envelopes with accompanying stickers by local artists A Liang Chan, Jia Sung, Stefanie Tam, Rose Wong, and Fiona Ye.
Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC for adults
Of course, we hope to see you at Asia Society’s Leo Bar Happy Hour on January 31. In partnership with AAJA-NY, greet the Year of the Snake by getting your fortune told, seeing a lion dance, and saying ganbei with signature cocktails and mocktails inspired by Lunar New Year flavors!
The Vietnamese Creatives Society and mavalabs are hosting a Tết celebration in New York complete with traditional food and drinks, performances, crafts, games, DJ, and karaoke.
Queer Asian nightlife impresarios BUBBLE_T take over Brooklyn venue Elsewhere for the Year of the Snake, with guests including SNL’s Bowen Yang and performers Slayrizz and Sundae School.
Neo-noir cabaret and jazz club Red Pavilion has a several Year of the Snake themed events throughout the Lunar New Year celebration, including burlesque shows, dance parties, and jazz nights.
Other ways to enjoy the holidays include a dumpling-making party in Brooklyn, mahjong night and doodle night hosted by From Here to Sunday, and Lunar New Year Comedy Night at Wild East Brewing Company. The latter event doubles as a fundraiser for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.
No matter where you are or how you celebrate, we wish you a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful Lunar New Year from all of us at Asia Society!