Did you know that Lunar New Year is celebrated by over 1.5 billion people? While traditions, celebrations, and dates may vary, it is celebrated in many countries across the globe like China, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, Tibet, the Philippines and more. While some events have already occurred in January, we have put together a list of in-person and virtual happenings, celebrations, and activities that can be done at home, in school, or in some cases, viewed after the fact.
Family Oriented Events Outside of School
- Museum of Chinese in America has virtual happenings through Jan & Feb around Lunar New Year and beyond. Check out their calendar here: https://www.mocanyc.org/calendar/ Below we’ve highlighted some events for families Grade K-8.
- Free take home Lunar New Year craft pack (in-person Thurs-Sun 3-6pm) or downloadable activities until Feb 13
- Free New Year virtual storytime via Zoom on Thurs. Jan 27, 4-4:30pm
- The Lion Dance Workshop. Learn about the famous lion dance and try out the moves. New Year’s Day. Tues. Feb 1, 11am-11:45am via Zoom.
- Museum of Chinese in America Year of the Tiger Family Festival. Feb 4-Feb 11. A week of virtual workshops for the whole family.
- Free take home Lunar New Year craft pack (in-person Thurs-Sun 3-6pm) or downloadable activities until Feb 13
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Virtual Lunar New Year Festival featuring storytelling, art workshops, talks and performances.
- The Asia Society is hosting Celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Tiger: A Family Day Program of Stories, Music, Dance, and Puppets on Sat, Jan 29, 1-3pm.
- The Lewis Latimer House is hosting Lunar New Year Tinker Festival – Shadow Puppets on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from. 2:30 PM 4:30 PM in collaboration with the local artist group Chinese Theater Works, experts on the art of Chinese shadow puppetry and traditional Chinese opera. There will be shadow puppet workshops and brief introduction to Chinese opera! Participants can join in for a hands-on experience with making their own shadow puppets, while watching a performance by the artist group through Zoom!
- The Queens Botanical Garden is hosting a Year of the Tiger event on Sat. February 5th! Take part in our annual lucky plant sale, contribute to a community art project, and join us for the return of our Lunar New Year celebration event, which includes a scavenger hunt and performances.
- Socrates Sculpture Park is pleased to offer a family oriented celebration of Lunar New Year on Sat. Jan 29.. Learn about the lunar cycle through a self guided scavenger hunt that invites visitors to explore the grounds and artwork of Socrates Sculpture Park. Enjoy hot tea using herbs that grow in the Socrates garden by a communal fire, and make your own tea blend to take home at a dry herb bar. And join us for a light sculpture workshop in collaboration with the Noguchi Museum led by educator Harumi Ori, geared towards families with children 5-11 years old, pre-registration required
- The Chinese Cultural Center has curated a list of many cultural events throughout the 4 boroughs. Please click on the link to see them – there are so many.
- The 24th annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival in Manhattan’s Chinatown will be on February 20, 2022 at 1pm.
Virtual and In-Person Field Trips and resources during School hours
- The Museum of Chinese in America has many virtual and in-person field trips for school groups.
- Chalk Academy has put together some sources for crafts and activities for both home and school: Best 20 Chinese New Year Activities and Crafts for Home and School! (chalkacademy.com)
