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

Manhattan's Chinatown has long been one of the fastest gentrifying neighborhoods in the city, but it's also one that has held on tightly to its roots. The Abrons Arts Center and the W.O.W. Project have partnered up for a sixth year of an initiative called From Chinatown, with Love, which uplifts local businesses and artists. Starting on January 11, anyone who spends $35 or more at participating businesses in the neighborhood will receive a pack of five red envelopes with accompanying stickers designed by artists A Liang Chan, Mischelle Moy, Jia Sung, Stefanie Tam, Rose Wong, and Fiona Ye. On January 16, head over to the Abron Arts Center to watch an all-women and queer lion dance team. For a full list of events, visit the Abrons Center's website. 

In case you haven't heard, all the cool kids play mahjong now,  and the Ace Hotel in Brooklyn is throwing a party involving the Chinese tile game. Design studio A+A+A and NEW INC are hosting a mahjong tournament with prizes that include a coveted New Museum membership. The gags won't end there: Artist Trevor Van de Velde will conduct a mini synth-orchestra using rice cookers; a DJ and saxophone duo will belt out sick beats; and did we mention there will be food and a craft making station, too? 

The Chinese New Year Parade and Festival is Sunday, February 16, 2025. The parade kicks off at 1pm. This year will be the parade's 27th anniversary. Head to Chinatown for the Lunar New Year Parade, which heads down Mott Street to Chatham Square to East Broadway toward the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Forsyth Street near Grand Street and Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

NO BAR at the Standard East Village is doing their big one this Lunar New Year by celebrating the holiday from start to finish. From January 29 until February 28, you'll be able to taste two dishes typically eaten in Vietnam during the holiday, crafted specifically for NO BAR by Bé Bêp's founder Phoebe Tran. Then, on February 8, AZN AMERICANA  be hosting an afternoon of group tea leaf readings that will include boozy tea cocktails and tattoos from local Asian American femme artists from 2:30pm till 4:30pm. Whether you're trying to see what your future holds or just want to try a Vietnamese treat, NO BAR's got your back.  

Next-gen claw machine arcades are popping all over Chinatown, and they feel like they were pulled straight out of Japan—organized in tightly crammed rows, flashing with neon lights and playing high pitched jingles we can only describe as “extremely kawaii.” The best part? You're actually pretty likely to win a plushie.

Anime Claw, a beloved arcade in Chinatown, is gifting players surprises inside red envelopes if they spend $40 or more in the arcade.

Tangram, the iconic shopping mall at the center of Flushing—Queens' ever-growing Chinatown—is gearing up to celebrate the year of the snake through hands-on celebrations uplifting local businesses, which will include a creative block-buliding workshop and deals throughout the mall's many businesses. On February 1, don't miss its dazzling parade that will kick off celebrations, followed by a slate of live performances, cultural showcases, and a Lunar New Year market. Check out its website for updates on programming throughout the month.

Experience a Lunar New Year cultural extravaganza like no other at the China Institute in Lower Manhattan, which is bringing reconstructions of Prince Kung’s Palace Museum—one of China’s most prestigious cultural treasures—to the heart of New York City on February 2. In addition to that, you'll be transported to the grandeur of Beijing with an authentic and dazzling celebration featuring interactive workshops, lion dances and other mesmerizing performances for all ages from 2pm until 5pm.

Red Lantern District, the all-Asian drag queen trio that consists of Felicia Oh, Kekoa and Kanika Peach, is having their much-anticipated Lunar New Year show on January 31 from 10pm till late. Expect their signature drag performances as well as audience games, special guests and a set by DJ Manila Ice. All of this will take place inside the iconic venue Red Pavilion, a Bushwick staple inspired by prohibition-era Shanghai, complete with red lanterns and specialty cocktails informed by its owners' Chinese upbringing. 

For a free way to celebrate the Year of the Snake with sweeping views of the city, head over to UNLISTED Rooftop at 3 Freeman Alley—located at the top of UNTITLED, a hotel hidden behind a labyrinthine graffittied alleyway—in the Lower East Side. From 9pm till 1am on January 31, enjoy sets by resident DJ Ezzek, handcrafted cocktails, vibrant Polaroid moments, and performances by local Lion Dancers. If you show up early, you'll also have a chance to get a brand new tattoo on site. Talk about new beginnings. 

NYC's favorite Asian-inspired emporium planned a full line-up to celebrate the Year of the Snake on February 9. The party will kick off at 11:30am, when you'll be able to see Ribbon dancers from the renowned New York Chinese Cultural Center perform on the main concourse in front of Pearl River Mart. At noon, lion dancers from the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team will prance and do the incredible aerobatics they're known for. Then, from 1pm till 5pm, you'll be able to enjoy a variety of activities like mahjong, as well as a wide selection of food and beverages. If you want to snatch a mahjong table for yourself and the homies, do that as soon as possible here.

A massive, 150-foot interactive snake sculpture will live at The Oculus from January 29 through February 12. The sculpture, named Infinite Harmony, will undulate between four and seven feet high as it snakes its way through the main concourse at the Oculus, revealing itself as you walk along it.

Visitors will be able to interact with the sculpture when they scan a QR code, which will allow them to control the movements of an animated overlay of a snake. 

If you are in desperate need of a good laugh like we are, head over to Caveat on February 1, where you can watch Model Majority, an all-AAPI sketch comedy team, host a night filled with snake-themed jokes, music, special guests, red envelopes and snacks. As per Lunar New Year tradition, they encourage attendees to wear festive attire, particularily anything with red or gold hues, to usher in an auspicious year. 

What's more, they're giving a $8 discount to Time Out readers, so make sure to use code TONYluck at check out.

Every year, the Seaport throws a family-friendly Lunar New Year celebration, and this year is no different. Head to the emblematic location in Downtown Manhattan at noon on February 1 to see a lion dance performance, or head to the Seaport Museum between 2pm and 4:45pm for calligraphy lessons. Since you'll already be in the area, make sure to check out House of the Red Pearl, a Chinese restaurant and speakeasy that was named a Forbes 2024 All-Star Eatery. You can RSVP to the Seaport's Lunar New Year events here. 

For some kid-centric and hands-on Lunar New Year celebrations, head over to the Brooklyn Children's Museum for a pretty solid lineup of events from January 28 through February 2. Whether your kiddo wants to learn how to make snake shaped origami, build a lantern, or write their wishes on a wooden plauque in the Okinawan tradition, there will be plenty to keep the younger ones engaged and extremeley informed.