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Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in New York City 2025
January 17, 2025, 7:16.16 pm ET

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Photo: Seaport/Mike Szpot

Celebrate Lunar New Year in New York City with parades, dragon dances and menus celebrating the Year of the Snake!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 16, 2025 for the 27th annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival in Chinatown. The parade kicks off at 1:00 PM, weaving through the streets of Chinatown with dazzling floats, lion dancers, and cultural performances. Festival booths featuring food and activities will run from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Bayard Street between Mulberry and Mott.

Be sure to also check out the 27th annual New Year Firecracker Ceremony. Ring in the Year of the Snake on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Chrystie and Grand Streets) with a thrilling firecracker display starting at 11:00 AM with festivities running through 3:30pm.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Seaport on Saturday, February 1st! Enjoy a festive meal at House of the Red Pearl, while catching Lion Dance performances outside the Tin Building at 12 PM and 1 PM. Or, head to the Seaport Museum for Calligraphy Workshops at 2 PM, 3 PM, or 4 PM. RSVP recommended.


Photo: Pearl River Mart

The annual Lunar New Year Extravaganza at Chelsea Market, presented by Pearl River Mart and Pearl River Mart Foods, returns on Sunday, February 9, from 11:30 AM to 5 PM. This lively celebration features free live performances, cultural activities, and the chance to play mahjong, with food and drink specials available for purchase. The festivities begin at 11:30 AM with ribbon dancers from the New York Chinese Cultural Center, followed by lion dancers from the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute at 12 PM. Registration recommended.

Celebrate Lunar New Year with a special Hot Pot Celebration hosted by three-time James Beard Award finalist and renowned pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz on January 28 at 6 PM at PLATFORM inside Pier 57.Chef Pickowicz will honor her Chinese heritage with an interactive hot pot dining experience, featuring a rich Sichuan-style broth and a variety of traditional ingredients and dishes. Tickets are $95.

Restaurant Offerings:


Celebrate the Year of the Snake at UNTITLED at 3 Freeman Alley’s with the Serpentine Soirée on Friday, January 31, from 9 PM to 1 AM. The evening will feature music by resident DJ Ezzek, festive Polaroid moments, crafted cocktails, and captivating Lion Dance performances. Arrive early for a tattoo happy hour, try your luck with a raffle, and enjoy surprises throughout the night—with free entry.

Hunan Slurp in the East Village will offer Pork Tang Yuan ($12) from January 28 to February 4. These glutinous rice balls are served in a soup made with dried orange peel and red bean paste, drawing from owner Chao Wang's grandmother’s recipe in Hengyang, Hunan. Tang yuan represents family unity, and the dish incorporates lucky symbols like the orange for wealth and the auspicious red beans for joy and fortune.

Photo: Round K by Sol

Round K by Sol (78 Canal St) in Chinatown is serving Tteokguk ($15) from January 23 to January 31. This Korean New Year's soup features rice cakes and dumplings in a rich beef broth, garnished with egg ribbons, scallions, and a touch of red chili. Tteokguk is a symbol of prosperity and longevity, making it a meaningful way to ring in the new year.


Photo: Yao/Kenny Leung

Modern Cantonese restaurant YAO is offering a special Lunar New Year menu by Chef Kenny Leung, available now through February 12. Highlights include Stir-fried Angus Beef Tongue with Assorted Peppers, Braised Pork Knuckle with Black Truffle and Mushrooms, and Lobster with Crispy Rice. In addition, YAO is debuting a collaboration menu between Chef Kenny and cookbook author Jon Kung, featuring Mini Scallion Pancakes with Creme Fraiche and Caviar and Saang Choy Bow Lettuce Wraps with stir fry mushrooms and scallops.

Grandma’s Home, the authentic Hangzhou restaurant in Flatiron, is ringing in the Year of the Snake with festive Lunar New Year specials from January 25 to February 2. Highlights include a la carte dishes like the Jade Treasure Box with spinach tofu and mushrooms, the Fortune Seeker’s Pot brimming with prawn and dumplings, and the Dragon’s Last Dance featuring steamed live lobster with sticky rice. For dessert, indulge in Wishes in the Snow, a creamy treat with lunar rice balls and tangerine jam and cream, and River Snake Blessing cocktail with shochu, elderflower, cucumber, and lime.

Happy New Year!


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