Home to the third 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 Lunar New Year that begins on Wednesday, January 29. Lunar New Year festivities last for 15 days from the start of the new year. From the annual Lion parade to drool-worthy Dim Sum brunches, Chinatown is smoothly sliding into the year of the Wood Snake.
1. Chinese 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 9 at the corner of Harrison Ave and Beach Street
2. Lunar New Year Festival at the Peabody Essex Museum
Salem’s PEM celebrates Lunar New Year with an all-day festival on February 15. Entry to the Lunar New Year festival is included with museum admission. There will be dance, live music, stories, special Lunar New Year snacks for purchase and more!
February 15 from 10 AM until 5 PM at the Peabody Essex Museum
3. 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 9 and February 25. February 9 is Pao Arts Center’s free annual Lunar New Year cultural celebration, families are encouraged to make a donation. The cultural celebration features crafting, art, and community building.
On February 25, ring in the Lunar New Year with the Year of the Snake Party. The ticketed event includes live music, artwork by local Asian artists, and small plates from local chef Asia Mei of Moonshine 152 for $150.
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 and New Year Party at 99 Albany St.
4. 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!
5. 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 this January!
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 January 25 and 26 from 10 AM- 5 PM at Flynn Cruiseport 1 Black Falcon Avenue, Boston, 02210
6. Lunar New Year Celebration at CanalSide Food
CanalSide Food + Drink at CambridgeSide is gearing up to celebrate the Year of the Snake with a festive family-friendly evening! The Lunar New Year celebration brings entertainment, giveaways, and free calligraphy, where you can learn to write the Chinese character for “fortune” with suminink on red paper. Food and drink is available for purchase during the festivities!
Find it January 29 from 6- 8 PM
7. Grab a festive Lunar New Year meal at Karma
Welcome the Chinese New Year with Karma Asian Fusion as they introduce the Year of the Snake with a special new year menu starting on Wednesday, January 29th. Karma Asian Fusion has locations in Burlington, Winchester, Concord, and Westford.
8. Savor some serpentine chocolates courtesy of L.A. Burdick
L.A. Burdick’s Lunar New Year Collection features a selection of chocolates inspired by traditional Asian flavors cherished during the holiday. Flavors include black sesame, red bean, ginger root, and more. The collection also includes to tantalizing chocolate snake varieties.
- Dark Chocolate Snake: Dark chocolate ganache with fresh mandarin orange juice and zest, covered in dark chocolate
- Milk Chocolate Snake: Dark chocolate ganache with ground black sesame seeds, enrobed in milk chocolate
The Lunar New Year Collection is available through late February.
9. Enjoy breakfast ramen at Boston’s 24/7 diner
In celebration of the new year and Boston’s Lion Dance festivities in Chinatown on Sunday, February 9th from 10:00 AM to 3 PM, adjacent South Street Diner is marking the occasion by serving their spin on traditional Asian-inspired dishes, including Breakfast Ramen with two eggs, diced bacon, and ramen, and Egg Foo Young Style Omelette with bean sprouts, water chestnuts, bok choy, shredded carrots, and beef gravy.
10. Enjoy a Lunar New Year celebration with a view
View Boston rings in the Lunar New Year with an exciting afternoon of festivities featuring live performances, festive food samplings, and cultural activities. In partnership with the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association, guests can enjoy activities like red envelope lantern making, Chinese calligraphy, performances with steel tongue drums and guzhengs, plus a scavenger hunt. Tickets to View Boston are required for entry to the event.
Find it at View Boston on Saturday, January 25 from 2-5 PM
11. Catch an indoor Lion Dance at the Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin boasts an extravagant program of Lunar New Year festivities this January and February. A traditional Lion Dance, performed by the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy and accompanied by lively drum and cymbal musicians will take place in the Main Lobby for the public and guests alike to enjoy. Other fun celebratory events include a Himalayan Sound Bathing Community Wellness Session on Wednesday, January 29 at 5:45 P.M
Find the traditional Lion Dance at Mandarin Oriental on Monday, January 27 at 12 PM
12. Savor a Peking Duck Chinese New Year Dinner at Margeaux Supper Parlor
The newly opened Margeaux Supper Parlor hosts legendary Chef Doris Huang for a one-night-only dinner. Huang, who’s cooked for Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, Marcus Samuelson, Lidia Bastianich, and Larry David, to name a few, plays-chef-in-residence for an extravagant Peking Duck Popup. The New Year’s dinner feature’s Doris’ famously multilayered Scallion Pancakes, a Three-Course Peking Duck feast —Crispy Duck Skin and Homemade Pancakes, Duck and Noodle Stir-Fry, and Duck Soup and much more! Each duck dinner serves 2-3 people and will costs $98 per person before tax and gratuity. Dinners must be reserved in advance! Learn more and book your feast!
Find it February 4 from 5-9 PM