By Stephen Stirling
The events are scheduled to officially kick off Feb. 17 with the annual Lunar New Year Parade, a centerpiece for the celebration in which 4,000 people alone march through the community. This year's parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., beginning at the corner of Union Street and 37th Avenue. The scheduled parade route will take the throng of marchers, colorful dragon dancers and cultural music south on Union Street make trips down Sanford Avenue and Kissena Boulevard before heading down Main Street to 37th Avenue. If standing out in the chilly February weather isn't your cup of green tea, the Flushing Library will also be kicking off its festivities at 10:30 the same morning. The library, located at 41-17 Main St., will feature Chinese dough doll making and traditional Korean games throughout the morning. Once the parade concludes, the library will host live performances of traditional Korean music and dance followed by an array of traditional Chinese dances. Also in Flushing following the parade, the Flushing Mall at 133-31 39th Ave. will host a group of Chinese folk dancers who will perform throughout the day until 5 p.m. The KoreaVillage Opencenter at 150-24 Northern Blvd. will also be holding its own celebration on Feb. 17, featuring Korean food, games, dancing and music until 4:30 p.m. Parade-goers are encouraged to stop in at one of Flushing's several restaurants, many of which have their own celebrations following the parade. For those who miss the primary celebration on Feb. 17, a second Lunar New Year celebration will get under way at Flushing Town Hall at 137-35 Northern Blvd. at 2 p.m. It is free and will feature traditional song, dance and costumes as well as hands-on exhibits for families. Flushing Town Hall will also be hosting an Asian-American festival called Rising Traditions throughout February. The four weekend-long event will feature dancing, folk music and Bollywood films. On the evening of the Lunar New Year parade, songstress Susie Ibarra will perform Filipino folk music with a Korean beat, courtesy of the Korean Traditional Dance and Music Institute. The events will run on each weekend in February and tickets cost between $16 and $20. For more information, call 718-463-7700. Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
