Photos: Local leaders and community members enjoy Flushing Lunar New Year parade

Numerous Queens community members gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the annual Flushing Lunar New Year parade on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Mr. and Mrs. Met joined in on the Lunar New Year parade festivities. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Plenty of local elected officials were also hand, including Council Members Linda Lee, Sandra Ung and Vickie Paladino, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assembly Members Ron Kim and Edward Braunstein, State Senator John Liu, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and many more. Additionally, several New York State leaders were on hand, including Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Chuck Schumer, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Letitia James.

(Left to right) Council Members Linda Lee and Sandra Ung, Flushing Chinese Business Association Executive Director Peter Tu, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Congresswoman Grace Meng and Council Member Vickie Paladino leading the Flushing Lunar New Year parade. Photo by Walter Karling

Senator Chuck Schumer greets parade attendees. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards enjoys the parade. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

New York State Attorney General Letitia James at the parade. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz at the parade. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

New York State Senator John Liu at the parade. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Assemblymembers Edward Braunstein and Ron Kim with Kim’s daughter. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Assembly Member Ron Kim with his daughters. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Congresswoman Grace Meng with Flushing Chinese Business Association Executive Director Peter Tu, who put the parade together. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

This year’s Lunar New Year celebrated the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom, enlightenment and longevity. This Lunar New Year parade came right after Congresswoman Meng reintroduced measures to declare Lunar New Year a federal holiday.