Lunar New Year is just around the corner! This year, the Lunar New Year falls on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac. Celebrated across Asian communities worldwide, this festive season marks a time of renewal, family gatherings, and cultural traditions. The Snake, symbolizing wisdom, intuition, and transformation, encourages introspection and careful planning for the year ahead. As the festivities begin, homes are adorned with red decorations, and streets come alive with dragon dances, lantern displays, and the aroma of traditional delicacies, setting the tone for a year of resilience and growth.
What exciting activities will New York City’s five boroughs host to celebrate this festive occasion? We’ve compiled a list of about 30 events, including dragon and lion dances, a firecracker festival, Lunar New Year fairs, cultural performances, family festivals, art workshops, and spring couplet giveaways, among others.
Remember to bookmark this article, mark the important dates, and celebrate the Lunar New Year with wonderful activities with your friends and family!
Manhattan
- THE MET: Celebrating the Year of the Snake

Time: Saturday, January 25, 2025, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, 1000 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Admission: All activities are free with museum admission; no registration required. Members and children under 12 enter for free. For residents and students from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, ticket prices are at their discretion.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host a Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, January 25, welcoming the Year of the Snake. The event will feature art workshops, exciting performances, and interactive activities for all ages, running from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM throughout the museum. Highlights include:a Lunar New Year lion dance kick-off celebration by the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute; a performance on Lunar New Year traditions by the Sesame Street Muppeteers featuring Alan Muraoka; a community hub showcasing community organizations around New York City and beyond, including AAP(I Belong), Flushing Town Hall, Ten Ren Tea, and more; and storytime with children’s book author Hanh Bui.
Additionally, from January 2025 to February 2026, the museum will present a special exhibition Celebrating the Year of the Snake. Click here for more details.
- Think!Chinatown Lunar New Year Special Event Series

Time: January 25 – February 16
Location: 1 Pike St, New York, NY 10002
Admission: Some events are free. Click here for more details.
Think!Chinatown invites everyone to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a variety of exciting events:
- Saturday, January 25, 12:00 PM–5:00 PM: Think!Chinatown Goes to the Met Museum.
- Monday, January 26, 2:00 PM–3:15 PM & 4:00 PM–5:15 PM: LNY Papercut Decorations w/ Artist-in-Residence Ling Tang.
- Thursday, January 29, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM: LNY Day 1: Lantern Reveal.
- Sunday, February 2, 2:30 PM–5:00 PM: LNY Teahouse: Bai Nian at T!C’s Studio.
- Wednesday, February 5, 6:00 PM–8:00 PM: Rice Cake as Offerings: A Nian Gao Cooking Workshop.
- Saturday, February 8, 2:30 PM–4:30 PM: Super Saturday Lantern Celebration.
- Sunday, February 16, 2:00 PM–5:00 PM: Mahjong party.
- The Sound of Spring – A Chinese New Year Concert with The Orchestra Now

Time: Sunday, January 26, 2025, 3:00 PM (Chinese traditional instrument demonstration and Lunar New Year activities will take place one hour before the performance)
Location: Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center. 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY
Admission: Starting at $25. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 212-721-6500, or directly at the box office to avoid service fees, or you can purchase online: barduschinamusic.org/events/spring25. There will also be a performance at Bard College’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on January 25 at 3:00 PM. For details, visit: barduschinamusic.org/events/spring-25-bard.
The Sound of Spring returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center for its sixth year of celebratory Chinese orchestral music, featuring guest appearances by the melodic and virtuosic erhu soloist Yan Guowei, the exciting and passionate percussionist Zhang Jingli, and the great sheng master Wang Lei, all from the legendary faculty of the Central Conservatory of Music, China. The US-China Music Institute is also proud to present the pipa soloist JinOu Anastasia Dong, winner of the Bard Conservatory’s Concerto Competition and a degree candidate for Bard’s Master of Arts in Chinese Music and Culture.
- New York Public Library Lunar New Year Celebration
Time: Tuesday, January 28, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Seward Park Library, 192 East Broadway, New York NY
Admission: Free
Come celebrate the Lunar New Year with crafts, snacks, and the debut of the Seward Snake display. Take this time to decorate a scale and add it to this installation to celebrate 2025: Year of the Wood Snake! Additionally, to celebrate Lunar New Year, the New York Public Library will host various free cultural activities across multiple branches in all five boroughs from now until February 11. These include art workshops, Lunar New Year trivia for kids, crafting Year of the Snake toys, lantern-making, and storytelling sessions. Click here to discover events happening at a library near you!
- Celebrate Lunar New Year at the World Trade Center with One of Its Largest Installations

Time: Tuesday, January 28 – Wednesday, February 12
Location: World Trade Center Oculus, 185 Greenwich St, LL3110, New York, NY 10006
Admission: Free
In celebration of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake, Danielle Chang, founder of LUCKYRICE, has teamed up with internationally-renowned artist Warren King and architects Richard Gluckman and Andrew Weigand to create a monumental public art installation, taking over the Oculus floor at the World Trade Center during the Lunar New Year period from January 29 through February 12, 2025.
Featuring augmented reality, the serpentine structure, titled INFINITE HARMONY, will span an impressive 150 linear feet and undulate between four and seven feet high, revealing itself to the viewer as they walk by. Built of two identical sculptural parts, its yin-yang proportions—symbolizing harmony—take over the Oculus floor with a footprint of 79 by 34 feet. Built from composite aluminum panels using CNC (computer numerical control) technology, the striking installation pays homage to both architect Santiago Calatrava’s interior structure of the Oculus as well as its location on the World Trade Center site. Guests will be able to interact with the sculpture after scanning a QR Code, which will allow them to interact and control the movements of an animated overlay of a snake.
- 27th New Year Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival

Time: Wednesday, January 29, 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Location: Roosevelt Park, Chinatown, Manhattan (at Grand St. and Chrystie St.)
Admission: Free
As a signature annual Lunar New Year celebration, the Better Chinatown USA will light hundreds of thousands of firecrackers to welcome the Year of the Snake in a grand style. In Chinese tradition, setting off firecrackers symbolizes driving away evil spirits and bad luck. The day’s festivities will include dragon and lion dances, crafts, and snacks. Arrive early to secure a good viewing spot! Click here for more details.
- Lunar New Year Celebration at Lincoln Center
Time: Saturday, February 1, 10:00 AM
Location: David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Admission: Free. Limited seating, first-come, first-served.
Join Lincoln Center for a diasporic Lunar New Year at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall with a family-friendly party on February 1, featuring a beloved lion dance performance on Josie Robertson Plaza and Storytime with Ashley Chang and Jeffrey Chan of The ABC Digest. From live performances, to delicious goodies and fun, interactive activities there is something for every New Yorker and family. Click here to learn more.
- Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Museum of Chinese in America
Time: Saturday, February 1, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: 215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013
Admission: $7.18 per person (including EventBrite service fee). Free for children under 2. Click here to buy tickets; if there are remaining spots, tickets can also be purchased at the museum on the day of the event. Limited free tickets available for families with Culture Pass, Cool Culture, or Culture Connected membership. Spots are limited, please make reservations in advance.
During the Lunar New Year Family Festival, participants can enjoy activities such as making tangyuan (sweet rice dumplings), storytime, exhibitions, concerts, performances, and craft workshops. The museum will host a month-long celebration of the Lunar New Year, with highlights including a movie club on February 6, a tai chi class on February 11, and a Lantern Festival celebration on February 12. Click here for more details.
- Celebrate the Year of the Sneak at the Seaport
Time: Saturday, February 1, 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: Multiple locations at the Seaport in Manhattan
Admission: Free
The Seaport in Manhattan will host all-day activities to celebrate the Year of the Snake. Highlights include:
- 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM: Two 15-minute dragon and lion dance performances.
- 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM: Three 30-minute Chinese calligraphy workshops
- (registration required).
- 11:00 AM–4:30 PM: Nautical Chinese lion chains workshop. Click here for more details.
- Bryant Park Lunar New Year Celebration
Time: Saturday, February 2, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Bryant Park, Manhattan, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, 40th Street to 42nd Street
Admission: Free
Welcome the Year of the Snake and celebrate the Lunar New Year at Bryant Park! Families, join a kung-fu demonstration, make and take home a craft, and watch a Lion Dance and other traditional musical performances by the New York Chinese Cultural Center. Click here for more details.
- “Welcome to Chinatown” Lunar New Year Fair

Time: February 7 (Friday) to February 8 (Saturday), 11:00 AM–7:00 PM; February 9 (Sunday), 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Gotham Park, Rose St and Avenue of the Finest, Manhattan, NY 10038
Admission: Free
To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake, “Welcome to Chinatown” partners with Gotham Park to host the Lunar New Year Fair! The market will take place from February 7 to 9. This free weekend event offers visitors the chance to shop, sample delicious food, and enjoy various activities. The fair will feature 17 vendors, including will feature 17 vendors including legacy Chinatown small businesses, and new entrepreneurs. Click here for more details.
- New York Philharmonic Lunar New Year Concert and Gala

Time: Tuesday, February 11, 7:00 PM
Location: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Admission: Tickets can be purchased online through the official website nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656. The hotline hours are Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Saturday from 1 PM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM.
This year’s Lunar New Year Concert and Gala honors philanthropist, NY Phil Board Member, and NY Phil International Advisory Board Co-Chair Angela Chen in a celebration of cultural heritage, new beginnings, and music’s capacity to transcend borders. Conductor Tianyi Lu (in her NY Phil debut) will lead the Orchestra in Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture; the Prologue to A Mad Tea Party from Unsuk Chin’s opera Alice in Wonderland; Casella’s La donna serpente, Suite No. 1; Chen Yi’s Chinese Folk Dance Suite, featuring violinist Inmo Yang (NY Phil debut) as soloist; and Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1. Click here to learn more.
- 27th Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival

Time: Sunday, February 16, 1:00 PM (parade starts), activities and booths open from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Location: Manhattan Chinatown, Bayard St between Mott St and Mulberry St
Admission: Free
Hosted by Better Chinatown USA, this is one of the East Coast’s most iconic Lunar New Year celebrations. Highlights include dragon and lion dance performances, sports car displays, cultural performances, and a parade. Click here for more details.
- Lunar New Year Extravaganza at Chelsea Market
Time: Sunday, February 9, 11:30 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Admission: Free, click here to RSVP
Pearl River Mart’s annual Lunar New Year celebration will once again take place at Chelsea Market! Head to the main concourse for a show-stopping performances by renowned lion dance troupe Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team as well as ribbon dancing from the New York Chinese Cultural Center. Then make your way to the lower level for food specials from Pearl River Mart Foods’ vendors, mahjong, and more Lunar New Year activities. Click here to learn more.
Brooklyn
- Free Spring Couplets Giveaway in Brooklyn
Time: Sunday, January 26, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Location: United Cultural Association, 829 63rd Street, Brooklyn
Admission: Free
The United Cultural Association will host a calligraphy event where masters will write spring couplets on-site, and attendees can receive them for free. The event will also feature traditional crafts such as lacquer dyeing and rubbings.
- City Point BKLYN Lunar New Year Event
Time: Saturday, February 1, 12:00 PM–4:30 PM
Location: City Point BKLYN, 445 Albee Square West, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Admission: Free, reservations required
City Point BKLYN will celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 1 with traditional lion dances, balloons, and children’s crafts. Free and suitable for all ages. Click here to RSVP and learn more.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year at Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Time: Saturday, February 1, 10:00 AM
Location: 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Admission: $15 for adults, free for children under 1,$14 for seniors
Join Brooklyn Children’s Museum as we usher in the Year of the Snake! Learn about the traditions of Lunar New Year through storytelling with authors Yobe Qiu and Ran Wei; live music, dance, and Kung Fu workshops with the New York Chinese Cultural Center; calligraphy workshops with artist Nelson Leung, Snake themed programs in Nature’s Engineers (BCM’s STEM MakerSpace), and lion dance parades led by the Chinatown Community Young Lions. Click here for more information.
- Brooklyn Lunar New Year Celebration & Prosperity Street Festival

Time: Saturday, February 1, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, between 50th and 60th Streets, with the main stage at 8th Ave & 51st Street
Admission: Free
Hosted by the Better Brooklyn Association, this event will feature booths, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities.
- Brooklyn 18th Avenue Lunar New Year Parade

Time: Sunday, February 2, 11:00 AM
Location: Starts at 18th Avenue & 61st Street, ends at 83rd Street
Admission: Free
Organized by the Chinese American Social Services Center and Councilmember Susan Zhuang’s office, the parade will celebrate the Year of the Snake. The public is welcome to join the festivities.
- 2nd Annual Brooklyn Lantern Festival Parade
Time: Sunday, February 9, 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Parade starts at 8th Avenue & 60th Street, moving along 7th Avenue to 50th Street, turning onto 9th Avenue, and returning to 8th Avenue & 50th Street. The main stage is located at 8th Ave and 60th Street.
Admission: Free
This event is co-hosted by the Asian-American Empowerment and others, featuring lantern floats, traditional Chinese arts, and performances.
Queens
- Kupferberg Center for the Arts Lunar New Year Celebration

Time: Saturday, January 25 and 26, 3:00 PM
Location: 53-49 Reeves Ave, Flushing, NY
Admission: $20 (no service fee, almost sold out); Tickets available at kupferbergcenter.org/lny-tickets or call (718) 793-8080
Immerse yourself in a world of wonder as the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company takes the stage at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, blending ancient Chinese traditions with contemporary movement. The Lunar New Year Celebration at KCA honors the Year of the Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation. The program features performances like “Lion in the City,” a fusion of Lion Dance and hip-hop, and “Unfolding,” a collaboration between Nai-Ni Chen and a Korean Janggu performer, exploring life’s continuous change. The event celebrates themes of harmony, renewal, and empowerment, culminating in “Dragon Festival,” a blessing for the community. The company will also premiere a new work, “Dances of the Golden Snake,” choreographed by Ying Shi.
- Queens Center Mall Lunar New Year Celebration
Time: January 25 (Saturday), 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, and February 1 (Saturday), 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Location: 90-15 Queens Blvd, Elmhurst, NY 11373
Admission: Free
The Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst will host an exciting series of festive performances to celebrate the Year of the Snake. On Saturday, January 25, from 4 PM to 5 PM, Macy’s will feature a celebration with lion dance performances and an appearance by the God of Wealth. On Saturday, February 1, from 1 PM to 3 PM, near Starbucks on the second floor, the lion dance team will deliver a lively performance. Attendees can also enjoy performances by talented local singers and join the Asian American Arts Alliance in creating fun crafts suitable for all ages. Bring your family and friends to joyfully welcome the Year of the Snake and experience the richness of the culture!. Click here for more details.
- Queens Borough President’s Office Lunar New Year Celebration

Time: Thursday, January 30, 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Location: 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY
Admission: Free and food will be provided, register at queensbp.nyc.gov/rsvp
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, featuring cultural performances and food, along with awards for outstanding community members. The event is open to the public.
- Flushing Lunar New Year Parade and Celebration

Time: Saturday, February 1, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Starts in front of the NYPD 109th Precinct located at 37-05 Union St, Flushing, NY, moving through Union St, Sanford Ave, Main St, 39th Ave, and ending at Queens Crossing
Admission: Free
Sponsored by the Flushing Chinese Business Association, the parade will feature lion dances and cultural performances, followed by indoor celebrations at Tangram from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
- Flushing Lunar New Year Celebration Series: Parade, Cultural Fair & Performances

Time: Sunday, February 2, 11:30 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Glow Cultural Center, 133-29 41st Ave, Flushing and Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing
Admission: Prices start as low as $5. For more information or to obtain tickets, call 718-359-1888, visit https://glownyc.org/2025lunarnewyear, or email contact@glownyc.org.
To celebrate the Year of the Snake, the Glow Cultural Center will host a series of festivities, including a parade, a Lunar New Year Festival, and cultural performances, inviting the community to participate.
- 11:30 AM, the Lunar New Year Parade will kick off in front of the Flushing Library, proceeding along Main Street to Flushing Town Hall. The parade will feature traditional lion dance performances and Chinese folk customs.
- 12 PM to 4 PM, the fourth annual Lunar New Year Cultural Fair will take place at Flushing City Hall’s first-floor gallery and garden, offering creative activities such as clay figurines, calligraphy, Chinese Han customs display, candied hawthorn, sugar painting, and opera mask crafting.
- 1 PM to 2:30 PM, a Chinese variety show will be held at Flushing Town Hall’s second-floor theater, featuring Sichuan opera, traditional Peking opera, and dance performances.
- Queens Museum Lunar New Year Performance
Time: Sunday, February 2, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY
Admission: Free for children under 12, the suggested donation for adults is $8, $6 for seniors and students. Click here to reserve tickets.
Join Queens Museum to welcome Lunar New Year 2025 as the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC) brings its renowned program back to celebrate the Year of the Snake. Experience the magic of traditional folk dances, vibrant cultural performances, and hands-on artistic activities. Enjoy a captivating hour-long showcase featuring professional artists and talented students from NYCCC’s School of the Arts. Explore your creativity with workshops in Chinese calligraphy, ink brush painting, and crafts for all ages, led by the Queens Museum education team. Click here for more information.
- Queens Botanical Garden Lunar New Year Celebration
Time: Saturday, February 8, 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: 43-50 Main St, Flushing, NY
Admission: FREE Admission. $5 Suggested Donation, $15 Event Parking. Click here to buy a ticket.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake at Queens Botanical Garden! Enjoy lion dance, cultural performances, arts and crafts, and a vendors fair. Food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be available. Free entry during our free admission season. Click here for more details.
Staten Island
- Handicraft and Lion Dance Performance at Snug Harbor Cultural Center

Time: Saturday, January 25, 11:30 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY
Admission: $14, 10% discount for students, seniors, and center members, free for children under 4
The Snug Harbor Cultural Center will host Lunar New Year celebrations featuring two one-hour puppet shows at 11:30 AM and 3 PM. The main festivities will take place from 12:30 PM to 3 PM, including cultural performances, storytelling, and traditional Chinese crafts. Click here for more details.
Bronx
- Dance Performance at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
Time: Sunday, February 16, 3:00 PM
Location: 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY
Admission: Check hostoscenter.org for details
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company takes the stage at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, blending ancient Chinese traditions with contemporary movement. The program features performances like “Lion in the City,” a fusion of Lion Dance and hip-hop, and “Unfolding,” a collaboration between Nai-Ni Chen and a Korean Janggu performer, exploring life’s continuous change. The event celebrates themes of harmony, renewal, and empowerment, culminating in “Dragon Festival,” a blessing for the community. The company will also premiere a new work, “Dances of the Golden Snake,” choreographed by Ying Shi.