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 January 29, allowing for personal celebrations on the first day, January 22. From the annual Lion parade to drool-worthy Dim Sum brunches, Chinatown is leaping into the year of the rabbit 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, crymbals, 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 January 29, 2023 at the corner of Harrison Ave and Beach Street
Lunar New Year Cultural Village
Celebrate with Chinese calligraphy, origami, lantern crafting and plenty of family-friendly fun! There will be plenty of food tastings, live music, dancers and more gather to celebrate from 11 AM to 3 PM on January 29.
Catch the Cultural Village at the China Trade Center located at 2 Boylston St.
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 Sunday, January 29. Kids aged 5 to 12 can put their best foot forward at a Lion-dance demonstration with Nüwa Athletic Club!
Foodies can stop by the Korean Dasik cookie stamping class (you get to eat your cookie art too) and all are welcome to try their hand at Rabbit puppet making with the Harvard Asian American Brotherhood or Red Envelope activities with Lily Xie, a Chinese- American Artist and Educator.
Find the Pao Arts Center Celebration at 99 Albany St. on January 29 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 Night Concert
January 29 is a packed day for Lunar New Year celebrations in Boston. As a precursor to Sunday’s celebrations, join Boston’s Vietnamese community for a live concert on January 28 from 6:30 to 11:30 PM!
Key artists performing in include: Hoàng Thục Linh and Justin Nguyễn, Y Phương, Ngọc Diễm, Lê Vũ, Thiện Khán, Hoàng Thông, Hữu Thanh, Minh Hằng, Kim Ngân, VPOP Band, vocalist Hoàng Thục Linh and singer Justin Nguyễn!
Find it at IBEW Local 103 Freedom Hall (256 Freeport Street, Dorchester, MA 02122)