The Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated in late January and February. Welcome the Year of the Sheep with events and activities taking place in and near Brooklyn, including parades, crafts, and fireworks!
Cultural Connections Performance: Chinese New Year with Puppetry in Practice
AGES: All
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
WHEN: Feb. 14, 2pm
WHAT: The event begins with a story about the Chinese zodiac told with shadow puppets, followed by a Dragon Walk workshop in which a large Chinese dragon puppet, paraded by 14 museum visitors, travels through the entire museum. Decorate a small, red paper square and write your wishes to feed to the dragon.
WANT TO GO? $9. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.
3, 2, 1…Happy Chinese New Year!
AGES: Preschoolers
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
WHEN: Feb. 14-15, 2:30pm
WHAT: Learn about this cultural celebration and create a New Year’s craft to take home.
WANT TO GO? $9. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.
16th New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival
AGES: 5 and older
WHERE: Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Grand Street between Chrystie and Forsyth streets, Chinatown, Manhattan
WHEN: Feb. 19, 11am
WHAT: Whizz, pop, and bang your way into the Year of the Sheep at this annual street festival and fair.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 917-660-2402. betterchinatown.com.
Celebrate the Year of the Sheep
AGES: 8 and younger
WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island
WHEN: Feb. 19, 11:30am-3:30pm
WHAT: Celebrate the Year of the Sheep by creating a sheep or other zodiac animal shadow puppet in this walk-in workshop.
WANT TO GO? $6. 718-273-2060. sichildrensmuseum.org.
AGES: All
WHERE: Prospect Park Zoo, 450 Flatbush Ave., Flatbush
WHEN: Feb. 20-21, 12pm and 2:30pm
WHAT: Celebrate the Year of the Sheep by meeting and learning about the zoo’s sheep mascots. Chinese Theater Works will perform a puppet show. Pick up a scavenger hunt map and search for answers about zoo animals you might find in the lunar zodiac.
WANT TO GO? Free with admission: $8; $6 seniors ages 65 and older; $5 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 718-399-7339. prospectparkzoo.com.
Events for Youth and Families: Chinese New Year
AGES: All
WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
WHEN: Feb. 21, 1pm
WHAT: Celebrate the Year of the Sheep.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.
16th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
AGES: All
WHERE: Parade begins on the corner of Canal and Mott streets,
Chinatown, Manhattan
WHEN: Feb. 22, 1pm
WHAT: Every year, thousands take to the streets of Chinatown and Little Italy to watch traditional Chinese New Year performances, marvel at decorations and costumes, throw confetti, and enjoy great food.
WANT TO GO? FREE. The parade starts near the corner of Canal and Mott streets and marches to Chatham Square at East Broadway, down East Broadway under the Manhattan Bridge, proceeding down Eldridge Street to Grand Street at Forsyth Street, ending at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. 917-660-2402. betterchinatown.com.
Lunar New Year Family Festival
AGES: All
WHERE: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St., Little Italy, Manhattan
WHEN: Feb. 28, 11am-4pm
WHAT: This family-friendly festival stars Chinatown’s Red Silk Dancers as well as arts and crafts.
WANT TO GO? $10; free for children younger than 12. 212-619-4785. mocanyc.org.
New Beginnings: Lunar New Year Festival
AGES: All
WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Manhattan
WHEN: Feb. 28, 12-5pm
WHAT: More than 21 activities throughout the museum. Enjoy music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations and workshops, multisensory and hands-on gallery demonstrations, drop-in art activities, a tea ceremony, and bilingual story times.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; free for children younger than 12. 212-570-3961. metmuseum.org.
