BY WILLIAM HARRIS
It’s been over three weeks since the ball dropped to start off the new year. However, in a few weeks, the entire borough of Queens, along with the rest of the city will be hearing the sound of fireworks once again.
Feb. 16 starts the Asian Lunar New Year. Over the next month, Queens has many events in store for the people to celebrate the “Year of the Dog.”
On Saturday, Feb. 3, the celebration will kick off with the Forest Hills Asian Association (FHAA) hosting a wide range of performances. The event will showcase singing and dancing groups from the Austin Senior Center with special guest Ying Tang as well as a Chinese chi tai sword demonstration.
You can take part in this event at the Forest Hills Library, located at 108-19 71st Ave., Forest Hills. The event is free and open to the public and will start at 2:30 p.m. You can RSVP by visiting the FHAA’s Facebook page.
The following day, on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., the Queens Museum (New York City Building, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park) will be hosting its own Lunar New Year celebration. For the fourth consecutive year, the New York Cultural Center will showcase a couple of one-hour workshops that will include a visual arts demonstration and a performance program, featuring professional artists and students. Guests can also enjoy folk dances, traditional arts and crafts, and a lantern-making workshop.
For any questions regarding this event, call 718-592-9700.
About a week before the Lunar New Year is official, Flushing Town Hall (137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing) will be hosting a two-day celebration on Saturday, Feb. 10, and Sunday, Feb. 11.
The Feb. 10 program includes the fourth annual Chinese New Year Bazaar. A parade will leave from the Flushing Library (41-17 Main St., Flushing) at 9:30 a.m. and will include live performances, traditional crafts and fusion foods.
Flushing Town Hall will then host on Feb. 11 a traditional performance of the Hui and Huangmei Opera. The opera includes folk songs and classic dances from a 2,000-year tradition.
The biggest event of the Lunar New Year celebration is the Flushing Lunar New Year’s parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17. Similar to most of the events, the parade will have Chinese traditional dancing, floats and spirited costumes. Spectators are allowed to bring signs and banners to show their support.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. from the corner of Union Street and 37th Avenue. A pre-parade reception will also be hosted by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 135-32 38th Ave. The reception is free and will include hot coffee for those who come. For more information, call 646-820-5163.
