Chinese New Year In New York

Celebrations marking the Chinese New Year in New York are organized on a grand scale each year. Chinatown with significant Chinese population in the city dazzles in sparkling lights and fills with cacophonous sounds of thousand of people thronging it.

Buildings and shops are decked up to usher the big day in great style. People come out on the streets to capture the joyous moments that mark the arrival of a brand new year. The Lunar New Year celebration is one of the favorite festivals to witness when in New York. It is a time for merriment, great food, amazing shopping treats and fabulous performances. It is an opportunity for residents and visitors to be a part of the great traditions observed during this festive time and learn more about the Chinese heritage that is on full display through the events planned in New York.

For a different and insightful Lunar New Year celebration, parents can take their children to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum from Saturday, January 25-Sunday January 26. The museum would host activities that throw light to preschoolers about the significance of this festive holiday and give them the chance to make themed crafts. Young ones are sure to find the Puppetry being organized in the museum on Sunday quite entertaining as it would revolve around the traditional Chinese folk tale. A Chinese dragon puppet would also be kept at the museum and the kids would have to feed the paper wishes that they would write for it as it parades through the museum.

New York revellers can also gallop by attending the Family Festival at Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) at Chinatown. It will be held on Saturday, February. All sorts of fun activities have been planned to help families streaming in the museum to have a gala time. Traditional story telling sessions and classes for crafting rattle drums are being set up at the museum. Visitors to this delightful place can also catch entertaining performances by Chinatown’s Red Silk Dancers.

Manhattan Lunar New Year Parade at Chinatown is another must-witness feature for all revelers ushering the Chinese New Year. Half a million spectators are expected to throng the streets as parade would begin at Mott and Hester Streets, taking to Chatham Square on East Broadway to Forsyth Street and to Broome Street. The colorful pan-Asian procession would have dazzling performances, including the Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Malaysian and even Hispanic floats. The presence of some fabulous family-friendly Chinatown restaurants in the area would give people the chance to round off the festive day by digging into the traditional savories.

Be at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden to enjoy the glory of welcoming the Chinese New Year in open green space. Entertaining activities such as the Chinese folk dancing, hip-hop-style lion dances, and Asian arts and crafts will be on display.