How to Celebrate the 2021 Lunar New Year in the New York Area

Here are some in-person and online 2021 Lunar New Year events to celebrate the Year of the Ox!

By NYMetroParents Calendar Editor February 12, 2021

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FREE. ONLINE Lunar New Year
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, 1pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: The Brooklyn Lions Club is back again in their starring role! Join BKCM online this year and celebrate the passing of a new lunar year. Dress-up in your best Lunar New Year outfits and send them pictures to be part of their Costume Zoom Parade! Bring along your snacks as and hear Chinese New Year food stories and interactive discussions with families on their Chinese New Year food experience.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

ONLINE Let's Get Loud! Nian Monster Noisemakers with the Museum of Chinese in America
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 10:30-11am
WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Legend says the Nian monster comes out the night before every Lunar New Year to scare villagers and devour their food. Join educators from the Museum of Chinese in America for a thrilling retelling of the Legend of Nian. Then, learn how to turn ordinary household items into festive rattle drums that you can use to scare away the Nian monster until next year.
WANT TO GO? Free. See description for supplies needed.

ONLINE Korean Lunar New Year – At Home!
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, anytime
WHERE: Staten Island Museum, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Download the museum's interactive guide and bring the traditions of Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) right into your own home! Celebrate the whole week with recipes, games, videos, and activities for the entire family to enjoy! Learn about the games (To-hoh), food (Tteok-guk), fashion (hanbok), and performing arts that epitomize this special time of year with this downloadable guide.
WANT TO GO? $5, free for members.

IN PERSON Celebrate Lunar New Year
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 13, 10am-1pm and 2-5pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
AGES: All
WHAT: Join Brooklyn Children’s Museum to usher in the Year of the Ox! Create an ox puppet in the ColorLab art studio, learn about the festival and traditions of Lunar New Year in workshops led by the Chinatown Young Lions (CYL) and parade around the Museum’s rooftop with CYL’s impressive lion puppets!
WANT TO GO? $13. Purchase tickets in advance.  

2021 Lunar New Year Events in Queens

FREE. ONLINE Virtual STEAM Workshop: Lunar New Year
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 11, 3:30-4:30pm
WHERE: Lewis Latimer House Museum, Online
AGES: 7 and older
WHAT: For the Year of the Ox, learn the foundation of sculpture! Participants will create ox sculptures using a bar of soap! Learn to apply some traditional sculpture techniques to make creative works of art.
WANT TO GO? Free. See website for supply list. Advanced registration required.

FREE. ONLINE and IN PERSON Lunar New Year Grab & Go Prosperous Fish
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 3:15-4pm
WHERE: Queens Library - Flushing Branch, 41-17 Main St., Flushing
AGES: 6-10
WHAT: Celebrate the Lunar New Year by making adorable fish with Ms Shiu-hwa, Children's Librarian at Flushing. From Feb 1-Feb 12, you can pick up a craft kit from the Flushing Library during open hours. Otherwise, bring your own paper, scissors, ruler, and glue.
WANT TO GO? Free. Craft program at link: https://queenslib.org/2Mz8U9z

FREE. ONLINE Lunar New Year Chinese Temple Bazaar
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2pm
WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: For centuries, people in China have celebrated the Lunar New Year in temple fairs with performances and food to start off a good year. This year, we will celebrate together virtually. Join Flushing Town Hall for lively performances, arts and crafts, and food demonstrations to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Ox and the final stretch of harsh winter before the spring renewal.
WANT TO GO? Free. RSVP online.

FREE. IN PERSON F&T Presents Lunar New Year at the Garden
WHEN: Feb. 6-28, Saturday-Sunday, 8am-4:30pm
WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing
AGES: All
WHAT: This year safely celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Garden throughout the month of Feb.! Enjoy festive décor, pick up one of their free monthly seasonal craft activity kits, and take part in the Plant Sale to bring home a lucky plant for the Year of the Ox!
WANT TO GO? Free. Queens Botanical Garden

FREE. ONLINE Virtual Lunar New Year Festival
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 7-8:30pm
WHERE: Glow Community Center, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: The Glow Community Center will be hosting a 2021 Lunar New Year Virtual Festival showcasing many local artists and Chinese cultural performances as we usher the Lunar New Year.  During this memorable hour, you will enjoy more than 10 performances featuring Umbrella Juggling, a beautiful Yunnan folk dance, a symbolic Lion dance, and so much more!
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

FREE. ONLINE Lunar New Year Kids Activity Workshop
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2pm
WHERE: Glow Community Center, Online
AGES: 3-9
WHAT: Glow Community Center is excited to offer a ‘Nian’ themed children virtual workshop. Children will learn the stories behind many Lunar New Year traditions through multiple arts and crafts activities.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

2021 Lunar New Year Events in Westchester County

FREE. ONLINE Chinese New Year Virtual Celebration!
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 8, 3:30-4:30pm
WHERE: Pelham Art Center, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Join Pelham Art Center's Chinese New Year Virtual Celebration! Artist and educator Jane Chang will share her knowledge of the rich history and traditions of the Chinese New Year holiday, followed by a Chinese brush painting demonstration. Attendees can follow along with Jane's brush painting demonstration from home using ink or watercolors on paper, or simply observe the folk art fun.
WANT TO GO? Free. Program will run on Zoom.

FREE. ONLINE Chinese New Year Origami Craft
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 11, 4:30pm
WHERE: Mt. Kisco Public Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Dragons are an important part of Chinese New Year celebrations since they symbolize luck. Create your own dragon out of origami that can double as a bookmark. Craft supplies available for pick up prior to the event.
WANT TO GO? Free. Watch on Zoom.

FREE. ONLINE Lunar New Year Virtual Craft!
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 11, 11:30am
WHERE: Field Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Join The Field Library for a special virtual craft tutorial to celebrate the Year of the Ox!
WAN TO GO? Free. Facebook.

FREE. ONLINE DFPL Cultural Explorers presents Lunar New Year Festival via ZOOM
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 3:30-4:45pm
WHERE: Dobbs Ferry Public Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Join the Dobbs Ferry Public Library for a virtual festival led by members of the Dobbs Ferry community, highlighting traditions in China, Korea, and Vietnam.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

2021 Lunar New Year Events in Rockland County

FREE. ONLINE Exploring Tangrams: Lunar New Year, The Year of the Ox
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 5, 4-4:45pm
WHERE: Somerset County Library System of New Jersey, Online
AGES: 6-11
WHAT: Explore “The Year of the Ox” with the ancient Chinese puzzle the tangram (a square divided into seven specific pieces) and a story. See website for supplies needed.
WANT TO GO? Free. Somerset County Library System of New Jersey

FREE. ONLINE Chinese New Year Celebration
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 6:30pm
WHERE: New Brunswick Free Public Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate Chinese New Year with two Chinese ancient folk arts - Chinese Knotting and Paper Cutting. Librarian Hsien-min Chen will teach you tying the Double Coin Knot, and cut out a paper Chinese character with you. The two projects will then be combined into one pretty hanging decoration that will bring you luck and fortune for the upcoming new year.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required. See website for supply pick up information or to supply your own.

FREE. ONLINE Lunar New Year Celebration with Children's Author Tina Cho
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 13, 5-5:45pm
WHERE: Montclair Public Library, Online
AGES: 7-10
WHAT: Author, Tina Cho, shares how Lunar New Year is celebrated in Korea using her book “Korean Celebrations.” Highlights include traditional clothes, bowing for blessings, special foods, gifts that are given, and games that are played. Children will also make their own Yut-nori game (see website for supply list.)
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

IN PERSON Family Fun Day- Chinese New Year!
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20, 11:30am-1pm or 2-3:30pm
WHERE: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate the year of the Ox by making lots of crafts – from dragon puppets to “porcelain” plates – that emulate traditional Chinese craftsmanship and icons.
WANT TO GO? $10; $8 members; $4 children. Purchase tickets in advance.

Lunar New Year Events on Long Island

FREE. ONLINE 2021 LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION The Year of the OX
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 6pm
WHERE: Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: This free virtual event will feature entertainment, cultural presentations, prizes, and more! Must be registered to be eligible for prizes.
WANT TO GO? Free. Watch on YouTube or register for Zoom broadcast.

FREE. ONLINE Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Li Liu – Chinese Acrobat
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12, 7pm
WHERE: East Meadow Public Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Li Liu – Chinese Acrobat! Her artistry amazes one and all, no matter what age.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

FREE. ONLINE Happy Lunar New Year: Tales From Asia
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 3-3:45pm
WHERE: The Bryant Library, Online
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate the Year of the Ox and learn about Japanese heritage through fun and engaging stories!
WANT TO GO? Free. Watch on Zoom.