The best things to do for Lunar New Year (a.k.a. Chinese New Year)

See traditional lion dances and ribbon twirling in this event series hosted at The Shops at Hudson Yards in partnership with the New York Chinese Cultural Center. Performances will be held every Saturday from January 17 through February 6. A trail of decor, including lanterns, wreaths, and more will greet you inside the mall. 

If you spend $188 or more on the same day, anywhere inside The Shops & Restaurants, you'll score a complimentary gift of bamboo chopsticks in a silk sleeve at the Concierge Desk on Level 1.

The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) is going all out for Lunar New Year with a month of free programming for all ages. 

The main event is MOCA Family Day on Saturday, January 21 featuring a lion dance performance, a noodle pulling demo, a candy making demo, storytime, a ribbon dance workshop, red envelope art and lots more. 

Events leading up to and following Family Day include a chance to decorate the museum, a virtual workshop offering tips to cook Old Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles, and a pop-up fashion exhibition. 

Check out the full schedule here. The event is currently sold out, but you can call to get on a waitlist. 

In This is Home, a Lunar New Year photo exhibition, three New York City-based photographers will tell a visual story of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities: how they live, work, love and, when needed, stand up for what they believe. See photographs by Janice Chung, Cindy Trinh and An Rong Xu documenting immigrant life, shopkeepers and the beauty of the ordinary. Their work will be on display from Saturday, January 21 through Sunday, February 26 at Flushing Town Hall Gallery in a free show.

Dine deliciously at the Lunar New Year Dinner Series presented by Welcome to Chinatown. The series includes meals at beloved local restaurants including Wo Hop and Mee Sum Cafe. 

Get a reservation here.

More than 50 local businesses will join the party for Long Island City's monthlong Lunar New Year celebration. Through February 19, look for red envelope surprise giveaways, special menus, family-friendly activities and even zodiac dance movement workshops. Events will also inlcude film screenings, parties, a staycation deal and "Bubble Tea Bingo."

Here's the full calendar of events. 

A Queens tradition for more than a decade, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company returns to Kupferberg Center with a spectacular performance to welcome the coming of the Spring of 2023, the Year of the Water Rabbit. The performance on Sunday, February 5 combines traditional Chinese celebration with modern flair.

This year, to honor the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, the Company will present a new Lion dance with hip-hop rhythm. The new work is a collaborative effort from Company’s Director of New and Contemporary Dance, PeiJu Chien-Pott, assisted by H+ | The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory’s Yvonne H. Chow, Lion Dance Master Henry Lee, and Hip-Hop legends Kwikstep and Rokafella.

The Company will also peform the festive "YungGe" (Harvest Song) from northern China, a beautiful and elegant "Peacock Dance" from the Southern Yunnan Province, a powerful martial art solo "Spear Dance" and the perennial favorite, the majestic "Dragon Dance." The Chinese Music Ensemble of New York will present two instrumental pieces, a Pipa Solo and an ensemble featuring Erhu (two string violin), Pipa (Lute) and Dizi (bamboo flute).

Sip specialty teas while learning from an expert about these delicious drinks. The Night at the Museum and Chinese Tea Experience on Thursday, February 9 features a guided tour of Museum of Chinese in America by Neil Wu-Gibbs, along with a tea presentation with Tea Drunk's Shunan Teng. 

Whether you're new to tea or a lifelong connoisseur, this program is bound to teach you something new — and tasty. 

Chinatown’s annual Lunar (Chinese) New Year Parade is back on February 12 with dragon dancing, stunning outfits, martial art performers and more.