With everyone talking about the first Lunar New Year recognized in the city’s public school calendar, many are wondering where to go this week to celebrate the holiday and the arrival of the Year of the Monkey. Here’s a short roundup of places holding events to honor the Lunar New Year in Queens this month:
1. Lunar New Year Parade in Flushing
When: Saturday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m.
Where: The parade starts at Union Street and 39th Avenue in Flushing
The Lunar New Year Parade in Flushing is one of the biggest community events of the year, with costumed revelers dressed as dragons bringing color and music to the streets for all to enjoy. This year’s parade will take place on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. at Union Street and 39th Avenue in front of the 109th Police Precinct. The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce will be holding a special reception in its office 39-01 Main St at 9:30 a.m. to organize anyone interested in marching with the group in the parade.
2. Performance of Norman Chin’s Southern Praying Mantis Lion Dance Team
When: Saturday, Feb. 13, at 12:30 p.m.
Where: The Shops at SkyView Center, 40-24 College Point Blvd.
Norman Chin’s Southern Praying Mantis Lion Dance Team will have a free performance at the The Shops at SkyView Center on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 12:30 p.m. Master Norman Chin is a master of Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu and is also considered to be one of the top performers of Southern Lion Dance. The team has been performing at Lunar New Year festivities for 15 years.
3. Chinese New Year Temple Bazaar
When: Saturday, Feb. 20
Where: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing
Flushing Town Hall has a calendar of special events planned for Lunar New Year, including the return of its popular Chinese New Year Temple Bazaar on Feb. 20. Musical performances, craft workshops and an Asian wedding dress exhibition are also planned as part of the cultural lineup.
When: Feb. 14 through Feb. 20
Where: 41-17 Main St., Flushing
The Queens Library at Flushing will have three events following the start of the Lunar New Year. The CBA Cultural & Arts Center will present special musical works and dramatic performances of traditional Chinese arts at the library on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the library will host an all-day multicultural celebration with Chinese and Korean music, arts and food, including a tutorial on how to prepare Korean sweets. The Ba Ban Chinese Music Society will perform a musical journey called “Along the Yangtze River” on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. to demonstrate how Chinese history, art and civilization developed along the great waterway.
5. Lunar New Year at Queens Botanical Garden
When: Saturday, Feb. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: 43-50 Main St., Flushing
The Queens Botanical Garden will host a Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. Children will be able to take part in a holiday-themed story time and crafts, and adults are invited to a tea-blending workshop (with a $5 materials fee).
6. Acrobatic dance performance by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
When: Monday, Feb. 25
Where: 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing
The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College is honoring the year of the monkey with a acrobatic dance performance by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Colden Auditorium at 10:30 a.m.The group is led by Chen, a traditional dancer in Taiwan, and colorful costumes and musicians playing ancient melodies will be sure to entertain school children of all ages.
