Chinese New Year: Parades, Events And More For The Lunar New Year

CHINATOWN, NY — The Lunar New Year will officially herald the Year of the Dog in February with the start of a new year, according to the traditional Chinese calendar.

New York City's Chinatown will be the epicenter of a week's worth of events, parades, food and other activities, starting on Friday, Feb. 16. Here's Patch's guide to the Lunar New Year in NYC, which we'll be updating with new events as the celebrations continue.

Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival

When: Feb. 16 at 11 a.m.

Where: Sara D. Roosevelt Park at Grand Street

What: On the first day of Lunar New Year, the festivities will get started with firecrackers, fireworks and other celebratory events to start off the week. Expect food, dancing and lots of fireworks. Friday's festival is scheduled to last until 3:30 p.m., and is hosted by the Better Chinatown Society.

Lunar New Year Parade and Festival

When: Feb. 17 at 11 a.m.

Where: St. George's Episcopal Church, 135-32 38th Ave., Flushing

What: The largest Queens parade will march through Flushing on Saturday morning, with participants gather at St. George's Episcopal Church starting at 9:30 a.m. The parade is hosted by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce along with other community groups. You can learn more here.

Lunar New Year Family Festival

When: Feb. 17 at 11 a.m.

Where: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St.

What: If you're looking for a kid-friendly and indoor option to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Museum of Chinese in America is hosting a day full of events and activities designed specifically for kids and their families. The museum's programming will include arts and crafts plus workshops where you can learn how to ribbon dance and get your face painted. Tickets are $12 for non-members and $8 for members. You can learn more here.

Chinese New Year Parade
When: Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.

Where: Mott & Canal 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.

What: One of the biggest parts of the Lunar New Year in New York is the parade, which will gather some of the city's most impressive displays of Chinese culture in a route throughout Chinatown and the Lower East Side.

These and other events are organized by Better Chinatown USA; you can find more information here. Additional Lunar New Year events are planned for other Chinatowns in New York City, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Flushing, Queens.

Image credit: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images. Image caption: People carry a traditional dragon decoration on Canal St. during the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown on February 5, 2017 in New York City.