The Lunar New Year 4714 doesn't begin until Monday, February 8th, but the festivities will be in full swing beginning this weekend, including a fireworks tomorrow night, a huge art show at the Javits Center (free to the public) and a special, extra Lunar New Year parade on the Upper East Side!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6:
"Madison Street to Madison Avenue" Lunar New Year Parade, starting at 11 a.m.: This year, there will be lion and dragon dancers performing on Madison Avenue between East 54th and East 76th Streets, from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, activities, like calligraphy demonstrations, face-painting and more, will last until 3 p.m. and numerous stores (Baccarat, Bally, CH Carolina Herrera, Chopard, Coach, Dennis Basso, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Michael Kors, Mulberry, NARS) will have in-store events. [Details]
Lunar New Year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Puppet performances! Paper cutting workshops! Hand-pulled noodle demonstrations! The Met is pulling out all the stops for visitors of all ages. There will also be concerts and a tea ceremony—here's the full schedule.
"Fantastic Art China: International Creative Festival" at the Javits Center, opening ceremony 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.: The 72,000 square foot exhibit will feature artworks—including a 3,000-pound steel monkey—from master as well as emerging Chinese artists, plus many other activities and programs. Presented by the China Central Academy of Fine Art, the show is free and open February 6 through February 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on February 10. Saturday night, though, is the opening ceremony, with a concert and folk dances. [Details]
Rendering of this year's Lunar New Year Fireworks by Grucci
Fireworks over the Hudson River, Pier 84, 8:30 p.m.: Somehow Fireworks by Grucci will have to top last year's exhilarating fireworks display. Composer Tan Dun has created music to accompany the pyrotechnics, and you can listen to the simulcast on WGBB 1240 AM (you can also download the Grucci app or the TuneIn app and search for radio WGBB AM 1240).
Empire State Building in Red and Gold: The skyscraper will be in the traditional "good fortune" colors on Saturday night. From sunset to 2 a.m., every 15 minutes, there will be a dazzling Lunar New Year display on the building.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7:
"Fantastic Art China: International Creative Festival" at the Javits Center, 10-6 p.m.: [More info above and here]
An artwork from the "Fantastic Art China" exhibit
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8:
Students Holiday Celebration, Javits Center, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: It's a holiday for public school children for the first time ever, so this might be just the place to take the kids. A daylong festival with an opening ceremony, dance events (for the public and one from the National Dance Institute), tours of the "Fantastic Art China" exhibit and talks about monkey conservation.
"Fantastic Art China: International Creative Festival" at the Javits Center, 10-6 p.m.: [More info above and here]
Firecracker Ceremony, 11 a.m. at Sara D. Roosevelt Park by Grand Street between Chrystie and Forsyth Streets: The new year gets welcomed with many, many, many bangs in the 17th year of this downtown ritual. Lion dancers will be there, of course.
Brush painting with Ray Se
Chinese brush painting, on February 8, as well as February 22 and 29, at 3:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Public Library's New Utrecht branch: Learn about this ancient technique from professional teaching artist Ray Se. Registration is required.
Empire State Building lighting show, sunset to 2 a.m.: Every 15 minutes, there will be a dazzling Lunar New Year display on the building.
Empire State Building
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Lion dancers at Lincoln Center, 4:30 p.m.: Both Year of the Monkey dances and traditional Lion Dances will be performed at Josie Robertson Plaza.
New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Concert, 7:30 p.m., David Geffen Hall: Long Yu conducts, with performances by violinist Maxim Vengerov and of Tan Dun's Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women. [Tickets still available]
"Fantastic Art China: International Creative Festival" at the Javits Center, 10-6 p.m.: [More info above and here]
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10:
"Fantastic Art China: International Creative Festival" at the Javits Center, 10-3 p.m.: [More info above and here]
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13:
Flushing Lunar New Year Parade, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Meet at the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce (39-01 Main Street, Suite 511) and head to the parade; the group notes, "Budget enough time to get into downtown Flushing (it will be difficult to drive after 9AM as streets will be closed)." [Details]
Chinese New Year Family Celebration, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the China Institute in Manhattan: A lion dance and kung fu performance outside precedes the doors opening to the institute, which will give visitors a chance to meet the lion dance performers as well as make dumplings and paper lanterns and learn about the Legend of the Monkey King. [Details]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14:
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade, 1:00 p.m., start at Mott and Canal Streets, to to Chatham Square to East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets towards Grand Street next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park: This parade takes over Chinatown with lion dancers, dancers and floats—not to mention tons of confetti.
In Chinatown last year (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Lunar New Year Celebration in Sunset Park, 11 a.m., at 50th Street and 8th Avenue: The Brooklyn Chinese-American Association sponsors this rousing parade.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20:
Lunar New Year Family Festival at the Museum of the Chinese in America, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 215 Centre Street in Manhattan: The museum's big festival starts off with a lion dance—and then visitors can practice their own drumming and peek inside the costumes. There's also a noodle-pulling demonstration and a gugin and erhu performance. You can also try different lucky new year snacks; hunt for bananas (it's the Year of the Monkey, duh); and get your face painted with different Chinese zodiac figures. [RSVP is required for the popular event.]
Queens Zoo Lunar New Year Celebration, 11 a.m to 4 p.m.: A Lunar New Year Zodiac Scavenger Hunt is just one of the many activities the zoo has planned for visitors on both Saturday and Sunday, February 21. There are also crafts, calligraphy workshops and puppet performances (1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.). Plus tea and fortune cookies for humans and fish for sea lions (sea lion feedings at 11:15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.). [Details]
A pygmy marmoset at the Bronx Zoo (Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society)
Xi'an Famous Food's Lunar New Year Festival
, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Terminal 5: Music and munchies collide at this food and music fest, which raises money for Apex for Youth, an organization serving underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-income families. Food, priced $2 to $6, is from Xi’an Famous Foods, Otafuku, Yonekichi, Korilla BBQ, Mokbar, and Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and musical performers are Far East Movement, Kimberley Chen, Kina Grannis and Softlipa. [Details]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Queens Zoo Lunar New Year Celebration, 11 a.m to 4 p.m.: See above! [Details]
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27:
Prospect Park Zoo Lunar New Year Celebration, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Besides a puppet show (1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.), zodiac scavenger hunt and other crafts, at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., visitors can make treats for the zoo's monkeys! The Prospect Park Zoo also has sea lion feedings at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28:
Lantern Festival, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in Sunset Park, 53rd-55th Streets and 8th Avenue: Performances, martial arts, crafts, calligraphy, lion dances, and, yes, lanterns.
Prospect Park Zoo Lunar New Year Celebration, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: See above! [Details]
