Things To Do In NYC For Chinese New Year

By Samuel Ford
Spending time in NYC for Chinese New Year? This year it falls on January 25 and it’s the Year of the Rat. There are plenty of special events taking place in the Big Apple where you can celebrate. After ringing in the traditional New Year holiday on January 1, it’s round two with Chinese New Year. From firecracker celebrations and wild dance performances to martial arts demonstrations, there’s a whole host of ways to have fun during the many events in the city. The streets of New York turn outlandishly festive during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. What is the Year of the Rat? The rat is known to be the first of the cycle of 12 Zodiac signs. In Chinese culture, rats were viewed to be a sign of wealth and surplus, and those born in the year of the rat are deemed to be quick thinkers and successful... Here’s our list of 9 fun things to do in NYC for Chinese New Year including:
  • Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival
  • Chinatown Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony
  • The New York Philharmonic Lunar Concert
  • The Temple Bazaar
  • The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)
  • And more...

Image of Camera, Glasses, Chinese New Year, Festival, Adult, Male, Man, Person, Hat, Female, Woman, 1. Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival

18th Annual New York City Lunar New Year Parade (Image credit: betterchinatown.com) This celebrated parade is vibrant and colorful with its dragon dancers, lion dancers, marching bands, and floats. This year, 2020, it’s the “Year of the Rat.” The parade route stretches from Mott to Chatham Square to East Broadway and towards Grand Street right next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park. This street party welcomes in the Year of the Rat with all sorts of themed food and drink vendors. The parade also features some amazing firework displays and entertainment. Admission to the Lunar New Year Parade is free and open to the public.

2. The Chinatown Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony

The Better Chinatown Society organizes the Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony where hundreds of thousands of sparkling fireworks are launched into the sky. The pounding pyrotechnics are designed to ward off bad spirits for the new year. Afterward, there are a number of colorful dance performances. It’s a can’t-miss event. You can even book a Chinese dinner cruise on the Hudson River to see the fireworks. Circle Line Cruises offers a gourmet 12-course dinner. Admission to the Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony is free and open to the public. Tickets to the Lunar New Year Fireworks Cruise are separately ticketed.

3. The New York Philharmonic Lunar Concert

The New York Philharmonic puts on an annual Lunar Concert to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This year sees the return of conductor Long Yu, the US premiere of the sensational Zhou Tian’s Gift, and the New York premiere of Texu Kim’s ping pong–inspired Spin-Flip. Tickets to The New York Philharmonic Lunar Concert are available for purchase online.

Image of Lamp, Festival, Chinese New Year, 4. The Temple Bazaar

The Temple Bazaar is truly a sight to behold. Here, Chinese New Year is celebrated with bright red lanterns floating through the streets. Enjoy Chinese music and awe-inspiring martial arts demonstrations; learn Chinese crafts like calligraphy and paper cutting. You can even munch on authentic, mouth-watering food from Taiwan and Shandong. Admission to The Temple Bazaar is free and open to the public, some events and activities may be separately ticketed.

Image of Brunch, Food, Lunch, Meal, Food Presentation, Dining Table, Person, Baby, Dish, 5. Savor the Dim Sum

You can’t experience Chinese New Year without indulging in some timeless and authentic delicacies. New York’s Chinatown is home to one of the largest communities of Chinese people outside of Asia, and settlers brought with them their much-beloved cuisine. To get a taste of the very best of it, you can embark on a walking tour of Chinatown (and surrounding neighborhoods) and learn through taste how this fascinating area grew and grew. Following your tour, you’ll be an expert on the area and well-deserving of a delectable dim sum lunch! We recommend visiting the Nom Wah Tea Parlor for some mooncakes. It’s the oldest dim sum parlor in NYC and dates back to 1920. The SoHo – Little Italy – Chinatown Neighborhood Walking Tour is included on the New York Explorer Pass.

6. Madison Street to Madison Avenue Parade

This action-packed festival is all day long. There’s shopping, dance performances, and family entertainment. There’s also traditional Chinese face-changing, colorful lion dancers, and calligraphy demos. It’s just one more way to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This year, the colorful celebration will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020. Admission to Madison Avenue Parade is free and open to the public.

7. The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)

One of the best ways to fully appreciate your trip to NYC for Chinese New Year is to take a visit to the Museum of Chinese in America. Here you can learn all about Chinese culture and the traditions you’ll be celebrating with the Lunar New Year, and discover what life in NYC and beyond is like for its large Chinese population. The MOCA is a former machine shop inspired by a Chinese house with rooms extending from a central courtyard. It has exhibits that trace the development of Chinese communities along with mixed-media displays of Chinese restaurants and Laundries in New York. Tickets to the Museum of Chinese in America are available for purchase at the door or in advance online.

8. The New Kam Hing Coffee Shop

Get your sugar and caffeine fix at the New Kam Hing Coffee Shop. This 30-year-old coffee shop doesn’t look like much but serves up the best boat-shaped white-sugar cake, coffee, and green tea. It also has an angel-food-like interior that is light and airy. What’s more, take the time to shop for some great Asian cuisine at the Hong Kong Supermarket. It’s a Chinatown megastore that has everything for Asian food fanatics. Get fermented black beans, fresh noodles, and dumpling wrappers. Everything’s fresh, and the sushi stall offers tasty to-go fresh rolls. Image of City, Urban, Building, Cityscape, Metropolis, Downtown, Office Building, Car, Neighborhood,

9. Concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall

How better to end this list than with the prospect of world-renowned symphonies featuring film and harp projections. There’s even a pre-concert reception where you can dine with the artists. Previous performers include Jiaxin Tian and conductor Gregory Singer. Orchestral performances are some of the finest in the world at the hallowed house of high arts: the Lincoln Center. Tickets are available for purchase online. Guided Lincoln Center Tour tickets are available on the New York Explorer Pass. So, from dazzling fireworks shows and colorful parades to great museums and concerts, it’s clear that there’s no shortage of things to do in NYC for Chinese New Year. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, no place celebrates the Chinese New Year better than the Big Apple.

Remember To Save on Attraction Admission

If you’re looking for things to do in NYC for Chinese New Year, spend some time in Chinatown checking out all of the festive events, and be sure to add some New York City sightseeing to your itinerary, too. Remember, some of these great options are available on the New York Explorer Pass, where you can save up to 50% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Please note, the special events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the New York Explorer Pass.
Samuel Ford
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to Do in New York in August 2018

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New York in June

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Get the perfect taste of New York from favorite local vendors as you explore the Bronx across the Harlem River. Run by a diverse, female-operated team, the Bronx Night Market seeks to showcase the vibrancy of the area through its food and culture. A total feast for the senses, the event features a broad array of delicious provisions at super affordable prices. Whether you’re more savory or sweet, one thing’s for sure – you won’t be leaving on an empty stomach! In addition to all the great food, the market also offers some interesting stalls to browse as well as live performances from local musicians. Try Something New Summers in New York can get, shall we say, a little humid? If you’re looking for a fun way to cool down, why not try kayaking? Running from the beginning of the month, visitors can head down to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse to for a free session. All paddlers are accompanied by friendly watersport experts and provided with proper kayaking equipment to ensure full safety. Granting amazing views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, this truly one-of-a-kind experience should be at the top of everyone’s itinerary! When the summertime rolls around, many of the city’s renowned cultural institutes transform themselves to suit the weather. A cornerstone of New York City culture, the Lincoln Center consolidates art with nature with a number of outside programs. During the month of June, visitors can relax in the outdoor reading room or catch live jazz performances and cabaret concerts under the stars. In addition, the establishment's newly designed park serves as the perfect place for fun and recreation after a busy day’s exploring. One of our favorite things to do for June in New York is head down to Brooklyn to catch the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Eccentric and lively, the event is the country's largest art parade and one of the city's greatest summer events. Bringing together creatives from all over the nation, the festival celebrates ancient mythology whilst serving as a total flourish of self-expression. A must-do for lovers of all things campy, this one-of-a-kind fiesta involves outlandish nautical-themed costumes, huge floats, and fun marching bands. Artsy, exciting, and downright ludicrous - hey, isn’t that what New York City is all about? Get Festive June in New York brings a whole host of fun and festivities. Drawing in tens of thousands of participants and millions of spectators each year, the city’s pride parade is one of the largest LGBTQ+ marches in the world. If you’re looking to join in on the fun, head down to Fifth Avenue towards the end of the month to experience the incredible and vibrant parade take to the streets. Complete with rainbow-colored floats, high-spirited dancing and iconic performers, you won’t want to skip this one. Those familiar with New York can attest that the city provides a wide array of fun festivals for visitors throughout the summertime. Kicking off towards the end of the month, Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of African-American slaves and celebrating diversity in culture. Perhaps the most conventional way to celebrate the holiday is by rocking up to the Juneteenth NYC, which kicks off at 5 p.m. in Brooklyn each year. In addition, the city hosts many cool and unique ways to celebrate black culture across all five boroughs, including special screenings at the Museum of Moving Image, Broadway productions celebrating black performers, and Juneteenth Freedom Fest NYC: Block Party. Those who are looking for a fun and affordable ways to experience the city might be interested in the next item on our list. Originally created in the aftermath of 9/11, the River to River Festival was presented with the intention to soothe and celebrate the city’s strength through art. Starting from mid-June, the event features everything from music and dance performances to live installations and screenings. With an incredible atmosphere and so much to see, this one is fun for all the family. New York is what vacation destination dreams are made of. Whether you’re a foodie, an artsy type, or a music lover, you’ll be spoiled for choice with great things to do in the city. Explore the area to its full potential with Go City’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook.
Sarah Harris

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