Home to the 3rd largest Chinatown neighborhood in America, after San Francisco and New York, Lunar New Year in Boston offers a myriad of cultural events and explorations to ring in the new year on February 10. From the annual Lion parade to drool-worthy Dim Sum brunches, Chinatown is roaring into the year of the dragon full force!
Lunar New Year Parade and Lion Dance
The marquee event for Lunar New Year celebrations is the huge and brightly colored Chinese New Year Parade which takes place every year. Dancers and performers march from Phillips Square at 10 AM to make their final destination in Chinatown by around 3 PM. Roads close in the area to make way for the parade and pedestrians!
Expect to see drums, cymbals, firecrackers, and taste plenty of delicious authentic Chinese food during the parade. Businesses in Chinatown hang lovely red lanterns, so enjoy the festively decked out Chinatown atmosphere!
Catch the start of the parade at 10 AM on February 18, 2024 at the corner of Harrison Ave and Beach Street
Lunar New Year Festival at the Peabody Essex Museum
Salem’s PEM celebrates Lunar New Year with an all-day festival on February 10. Entry to the Lunar New Year festival is included with museum admission. There will be dance, live music, stories, and more!
February 10 from 10 AM until 4 PM at the Peabody Essex Museum
Pao Arts Interactive Lunar New Year Celebration
The Pao Arts Center will be flooding with events to dive right into in celebration of this Lunar New Year on February 18.
Foodies can stop by the Korean Dasik cookie stamping class (you get to eat your cookie art too) and all are welcome to enjoy the Korean cultural dances and interactive crafting opportunities.
Find the Pao Arts Center Celebration at 99 Albany St. on February 18 from 11 AM to 3 PM
Dim Sum brunches, munchies and Chinese food galore
What better way to celebrate the New Year than with some delicious Chinese food? Lunar New Year classics to try are the Calamari at Peach Farm or pretty much anything from Empire Garden according to Bostonians who swear they could eat there for the rest of their lives!
If you want to diverge from crowds, head to Myers + Chang in the South End for out of this world Chinese fusion or Dim Sum brunch from Flour Bakery superstar, Joanne Chang and husband Christopher Myers. Or head to the spacious and reliably delicious Chang Sho in Porter Square!
Tet in Boston Lunar New Year Fete
As a precursor to the Lunar New Year parade, join Boston’s Vietnamese community for an energetic festival on February 4 from 10:30 AM until 5 PM.
The event attracts upwards of 5,000 attendees and over 80 vendors, according to Tet. For 35 years, Tet has celebrated Boston’s Vietnamese community through food, art, music, culture, and tradition.
Find it February 4 from 10:30 AM- 5 PM at Flynn Cruiseport 1 Black Falcon Avenue, Boston, 02210