Lunar New Year Celebrations in New York City

The start of the Lunar New Year aka Chinese New Year began on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, but rest assured the celebrations will continue, culminating with the Lantern Festival on February 5th, 2023. This week we have a small round up of just a few of the ways you can celebrate the Lunar New Year (this year it’s the year of the rabbit!) and show support for the Asian American community this weekend.

NB: Chinatown’s annual Lunar (Chinese) New Year Parade is scheduled for February 12, 2023 with dragon dancing, fireworks, music, show-stopping attire, martial arts demonstrations and more. We’ll have a blog dedicated to this event coming up!

This year Pearl River Mart, whose outpost has been a staple at the Chelsea Market since 2020, will celebrate the Lunar New Year with a thundering performance by renowned lion dance troupe Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team. Pearl River Mart is an Asian emporium for all types of goods from fashion to home ware and worth a visit of its own merit.

After the performance, head to the lower level for a happy hour with lucky food specials from Pearl River Mart Foods’ vendors including Mao’s Bao, Kimbap Lab, and Tea & Milk. Word has it there will be special guests and more Lunar New Year treats.

Attendance is free and open to all; food and drinks are for purchase.

Saturday, January 28 at 5pm

Pearl River Mart in the Chelsea Market

75 9th Ave

New York, NY 10011

The year of the rabbit is off to a graceful start with the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto’s production, The Sound of Spring, an authentic Chinese New Year concert. The Orchestra Now, conducted by Jindong Cai, is set to perform festive traditional works including “Spring Festival Overture” and “Prancing Dragons and Jumping Tigers.” The performance is a collaboration with the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Expect an uplifting and particularly powerful performance that will demonstrate the strength of music to heal and endure. Tickets on sale here with seats ranging from $25-$100.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

3:00 – 5:00 PM

Rose Theater of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall

10 Columbus Circle

New York, NY 10023

If you’re looking for something for the whole family, check out the Brooklyn Children Museum’s Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, January 28. You’ll learn about the origins of the festival, the many traditions and their meanings through storytelling with live music, plus a calligraphy workshop. If you’re still not convinced, the museum is also putting on a rooftop lion puppet parade! Visit the museum’s site for a schedule of events.

Saturday, January 28

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

145 Brooklyn Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11213

The Abrons Arts Center on the Lower East Side and The W.OW. Project is hosting From Chinatown with Love’s Lunar New Year community building activity. January 28th, ushering in the year of the rabbit, is a creative workshop where participants can build their very own rabbit-themed headdresses. Visitors will transform recycled materials into gorgeous headdresses.

While you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping off at some of the local businesses where if you spend $25 or more, you’ll get a specially-created one page calendar; if you spend $45 or more, a hand-made limited-edition charm for good fortune could be yours.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

12pm

Abrons Arts Center

466 Grand Street (at Pitt Street)

New York, NY 10002

If you’re not the type that likes to make art but enjoys taking it in, you won’t want to miss This is Home, a Lunar New Year photo exhibition. Three New York City-based photographers tell their own unique stories of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities through moving images. Photos document daily life, find beauty in ordinary moments, and show emotional undercurrents of the communities. In the wake of the shootings in Monterey Park, the show is a defiant stance against racism and bigotry. Photographs by Janice Chung, Cindy Trinh and An Rong Xu. Their work will be on display from Saturday, January 21 through Sunday, February 26 at Flushing Town Hall Gallery in a free show.

Flushing Town Hall

137-35 Northern Blvd.

Flushing, NY 11354

The Lombardy Hotel’s timeless elegance is iconic to Midtown Manhattan. Our rooms are spacious, comfortable and thoughtfully designed to make you feel at home. We look forward to hosting you on your next visit to New York City.

*Due to Covid-19 our restaurant, cafe and gym will remain closed for a time.