How to Celebrate the 2021 Lunar New Year in NYC Virtually

The Lunar New Year Festival is a celebration of new beginnings and spending time with the family. The festival normally features a parade, colorful fireworks, dance performances, and delicious cuisine. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the event has been moved online, so everyone can celebrate the 2021 Lunar New Year in NYC from the safety of their home.

Psst! Looking for family, friendly activities to enjoy during the winter? Check out: Perfect Snow Day Activities for Kids in NYC

If you and your family want to participate in the Lunar New Year this year, here is a roundup of some places hosting virtual events. The events feature live performances, puppet shows, food demonstrations, and even crafts. Most require you to RSVP, so register today to participate in the Lunar New Year.

Fun Activities to Celebrate the Lunar New Year in NYC

1) Lunar New Year Festival at the Met

The Met is celebrating the Year of the Ox with their virtual, Lunar New Year Festival. The event will be an all-day affair, featuring virtual performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for all ages. Learn how to do the lion dance for a prosperous New Year or watch dancers from The New York Korean Performing Arts Center put on a performance. Children will learn how to make confetti poppers, design their own zodiac animal charm, or create a fierce dragon puppet.

This free, online event will all be prerecorded and will be available to view on The Met website, Friday, February 12.

2) Club CMA: Free Fridays with Raquel: Lunar New Year

If you have a little one that has a creative streak, they will love this event. Every Friday, the CMA hosts Free Fridays with Raquel. On February 12, this free, virtual event celebrates the Lunar New Year with a fun craft. Inspired by the work of Lu Zhang, children will be creating their own sculptures to commemorate the new year.

This event is from 1 pm to 1:30 pm and geared for ages 5 years and older. Register through the CMA website to get a Zoom link. Materials to participate in the event are listed on the website.

3) Chinese New Year Temple Bazaar

The Chinese New Year Temple Bazaar will be hosting a virtual Lunar New Year festival to celebrate the Year of the Ox. Festivities include a hand puppet show by Chinese Theatre Works, traditional folk dancing performed by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, and the Queens Night Market will demonstrate how to prepare classic Lunar New Year dishes.

This event requires an RSVP, which you can do through their website. The Lunar New Year Festival will begin at 2 pm on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

4) Chinese New Year Family Festival

The Chinese Institute is hosting a virtual New Year Celebration. Families will enjoy this interactive event where they can watch live performances, enjoy making dumplings, and paint lanterns. Download a free, Chinese New Year activity pack Friday, February 12, so you can enjoy the event at home.

The Chinese New Year Family Festival will begin at 11 am on Saturday, Friday 13. Register through their website to reserve your spot for this fun event!

British Swim School - Long Island

<p>The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!</p>

Cucu's PlayHouse

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">Interactive, live-streaming music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers!<br />Join us every day from Monday through Saturday at 1:30 pm EST to sing, dance and play together while learning Spanish from your home.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">This class is part of a Spanish Immersion Program where your child will be introduced to basic concepts like the animals, colors, numbers and letters. All of these through the universal language of Music. Each session is fun, interactive and engaging.<br />A selection of Children Songs in Spanish guides the class from start to finish. Activities are related to the lyrics, in order to familiarize the children with the words and their meanings. Some of the songs encourage the children to dance. Nilda uses puppets, musical instruments, and props to teach children basic vocabulary through action and interaction, rather than through translation.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><br />The classes are streamed on Zoom's webinar platform. Participants (children, parents, nannies) are able to join the video from their homes and interact with us in real-time, it is a fun and engaging experience.</div>

Athletic Association of Yorkville Youths

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Serving the families and children of NYC for over 50 years with high-quality recreational activities that foster life-lessons which empower young people to succeed beyond sports. Our programs encourage positive attitudes and growth through teamwork and sportsmanship, attendance, fair play, respect, hard work, integrity and fun. Your child can participate in clinics and leagues in such sports as baseball, basketball, flag-football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, wrestling, track, and tennis. We also offer weekly dodgeball tournaments, drama and musical theater workshops, and after school programs.</span></p>