New York City's Chinatown is the epicenter of the Lunar New Year celebrations with the fantastic Parade and Festival and the New Year's Day Firecracker Ceremony.
These two events have been for years the iconic NYC traditional celebrations for the Spring Festival.
More recently we have seen the development of a series of exciting arts and cultural events pioneered by
the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in association with the U.S.-China Cultural Institute and other community organizations, which has given way to the "Happy Chinese New Year: Fantastic Art China Festival", featuring a lavish fireworks display over the Hudson River as well as the New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Concert and Gala and many more activities for children which are now able to participate since Chinese New Year is a public school holiday in the city!
New York City Chinese New Year Celebration Highlights 2020
Welcoming The Year Of The Rat
- New Year's Day Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival - January 25, 2020
- Annual New York City Lunar New Year Parade & Festival - February 9, 2020
- New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Concert and Gala - January 28, 2020
- New York City Chinese New Year Fireworks - Thursday January 23, 2020
- Chinese New Year Spectacular Concert at Carnegie Hall - Friday, February 7, 2020
New Year's Day Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival
Those unmistakable sounds and smells as firecrackers explode in a flurry of confetti, sparks and bangs heralding the auspicious start of a new year as all the bad spirits are ushered away... In New York, it is celebrated in grand style, the annual New Year's Day Firecracker Ceremony is a lively and colorful event, packed with well-wishers, dragons, drummers, lion dancers...
...And of course the main attraction, the firecrackers which kick-off at 12:00 noon...
New Year's Day Firecracker Ceremony 2020
When: Tuesday, January 25, 2020 - 11:00 am to 3:30 pm, Firecracker kick-off at 12:00 noon
Where: Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Grand & Chrystie St.)
How Much: FREE
More Info: http://betterchinatown.com/
Annual New York City Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
By far the most popular winter event in Chinatown, the annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival is a great family attraction with thousands of revelers coming to ring in the New Year.
Troupes of acrobats, dancers, stilt walkers, performers, marching bands, floats, and of course lion dancers and dragons weave through the jam-packed streets...
The parade is a fantastic time for the entire family, so bundle up and come out!
NYC Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade 2020
When: Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 12:00 noon to 4:30 pm. Parade kick-off at 1:00 pm
Where: Manhattan Chinatown
Parade route: Parade assembles on Mott and Hester and kicks off at 1:00 pm heading south towards Canal St. to Chatham Square, heads up to East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets towards Grand Street next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park.
Suggested viewing locations: East Broadway or by Grand Street / Sara Roosevelt Park.
How Much: FREE
More Info: http://betterchinatown.com/
New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Concert and Gala
The New York Philharmonic ushers in the Year of the Rat with a festive concert conducted by Long Yu.
New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Concert 2020
When: Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - 7:30 pm
Where: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, New York, NY 10023
How Much: $45 - $110
More Info and program: New York Philharmonic
New York City Chinese New Year Fireworks
A Chinese celebration isn't a celebration without a lavish display of fireworks... and NYC rises to the occasion with a dazzling show over the Hudson River as splashes of light inundate the city and the Empire State Building beams red and gold, the auspicious colors for a lucky New Year.
NYC Chinese New Year Fireworks 2020
When: Thursday January 23, 2020 at 8:15 pm
Where: Over the Hudson River. Hudson River Pier 84, 12th Ave & 44th St
How Much: FREE
More Info: Fireworks by Grucci
Chinese New Year Spectacular Concert at Carnegie Hall
The sixth annual Chinese New Year Spectacular Concert celebrates both Chinese and American cultures through art and musical performances and the diverse melting-pot that is New York City.
This year's performance will feature new artists including Pianist Cong Bi, Soprano Megan Weston, Pianist Michael Fennelly, The Athenians, and Kunqu Performers Jiehua Shi, Min Cheng and Qinglin Cai, as well as featuring returning headliners including Soprano Quan Chen, and American violinist Deni Bonet. Chinese Opera "Kunqu" is one of the oldest genres of opera, a ritualized fusion of acting, singing and stage movement.
"This year's Spectacular VI Concert is a diverse blend of cultures and musical sounds. We're thrilled to have such a strong and energetic group of new and returning talent," said Charles W. Sullivan, Spectacular VI Concert co-producer and president of Premier Event Management, Inc.
"This one-of-a-kind concert will be unique in its history, and we are extremely honored to continue to host this tradition at Carnegie Hall for six consecutive years," said Lily Li, Spectacular VI Concert co-producer and chief executive. "Our mission and passion for this event is to showcase a multicultural blend of music and art for our multicultural audience."
When: - Friday, February 7, 2020 - 7:30 pm
Where: Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019
How Much: $28+ Children under 12, seniors over 60 and active duty military members are eligible for a 25 percent discount.
More Info and tickets: www.carnegiehall.org or call (212) 247-7800
And of course NYC Chinatown does not have the monopoly on lively celebrations for the new year! There are hundreds of events around the city, check out Mommy Poppins handy guide for Chinese New Year family friendly events in New York.
Visiting New York City? This Guide is all you need to plan the perfect trip. Melissa has been passing down her "insider" information for years, there's tons of free advice, maps, tips and recommendations.
Chinese New Year Celebrations Around The World
Let's Celebrate!
filling each day with peak of health...
abundance of happiness...
bountiful prosperity...
and Zen like serenity...
You can decorate easily with traditional or battery-operated lanterns, paper cuttings, lucky coins and banners to add a splash to the celebrations!
More Chinese New Year Traditions and Celebrations
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