Get ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year, beginning on Tuesday, February 17, with live performances, crafts, games, music, and more, all across Long Island.
At a Glance:
- Art making at the Nassau County Museum of Art, The Merrick Library, Northport-East Northport Public Library, Smithtown Library, Wyandanch Public Library, Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum & Reichert Planetarium, and the Heckscher Museum of Art.
- Live performances at the Great Neck Library, the Long Island Children’s Museum, and Roosevelt Field.
- Storytelling at Syosset Public Library
Check out these family-friendly events to ring in the Year of the Horse!
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Nassau
Super Family Saturday: Lunar New Year
Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 am & 1 pm
All ages
$20 (includes admission); $10 members & all children
Experience a vibrant celebration of art and music while ushering in the Lunar New Year and honoring the rich creative contributions of Chinese culture. Activities will include a Year of the Horse craft at the Manes Center! Before or after art-making, head to the mansion to enjoy performances held by the Department of Asian Affairs.
Lunar New Year Celebration at Great Neck Library
Great Neck Library, 159 Bayview Ave., Great Neck
Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 am – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Library for activities throughout the day to celebrate Lunar New Year, including a Chinese Acrobatics Performance, arts and crafts activities, Lunar New Year Scavenger Hunt, and more.
Lunar New Year Celebration at IKEA Long Island
IKEA Long Island, 1100 Broadway Mall, Hicksville
Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 am – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
Celebrate Lunar New Year with giveaways, exclusive IKEA Family discounts and joy for the whole family.
Chinese Theatre Works
Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
Saturday, Feb. 14, 11 am & 1 pm
Ages 3 and older
$18 admission plus $4 members and $5 non-members, $10 theater only
Each year, Chinese Theatre Works celebrates the Lunar New Year with an original “budaixi” glove puppet production that features the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. This year’s show stars the Horse, who presides over a jolly selection of wild puppet skits, dances, popular songs, and well-known Chinese sayings that celebrate the wit and wisdom of the zodiac animals. A hands-on post show demonstration will make the Chinese bilingual cultural experience accessible to even the youngest audience members.
Lunar New Year: Lucky Cat Painting
The Merrick Library, 2279 Merrick Ave., Merrick
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10:30 – 11 am
Ages 5 – 12
Free
Advanced registration required
Paint a lucky cat with CREATE Programs to celebrate the Lunar New Year!
“It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George” Author Reading & Craft
Syosset Public Library, 225 South Oyster Bay Road, Syosset
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11 am – noon
Ages 5 – 10
Free
Advanced registration required
In this engaging and interactive program featuring a reading of the book and a craft, author Maria Wen Adcock will teach children about Chinese culture through the fun adventures of Curious George.
Lunar New Year Celebration at Roosevelt Field
Roosevelt Field, 630 Old Country Road, Garden City
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Join Roosevelt Field for a Lion Dance, Ribbon Dance, and other traditional Chinese performances.
Suffolk
Chinese New Year Shrinky Keychains
Northport-East Northport Public Library, East Northport Building, 185 Larkfield Road, East Northport
Thursday, Feb. 12, 6:30 – 8 pm
Ages 8 – 12
Free
Advanced registration required
Ring in the Chinese New Year: The Year of the Horse, with artist Chris Vivas to create and color horse shrinkies and turn them into keychains.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington
Sunday, Feb. 15, noon – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Welcome the Lunar New Year at the Museum with a festive, family-friendly celebration! Explore Chinese and Korean Lunar New Year traditions through hands-on art-making, interactive touch objects, and engaging activities that invite visitors of all ages to learn, create, and celebrate together. Throughout your timed entry session, enjoy opportunities to discover the stories, symbols, and cultural meanings behind Lunar New Year while connecting creativity with tradition. This joyful afternoon encourages curiosity, imagination, and shared experiences across generations. Advanced registration required.
Legends of the Dragon
The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11 am – 1 pm
All ages
$6–$8 admission + $12 participant; $8 for members
Kick off the Lunar New Year with an adventure through dragon myths from around the world. Uncover how real-life sea creatures sparked dragon legends, and bring the wonder home by designing a movable dragon craft.
Create and Celebrate – Lunar New Year
Friends of the Smithtown Library- Kings Park Building, 1 Church St., Kings Park
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11 am – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Stop by the Children’s Room to learn about Lunar New Year traditions and celebrations with a variety of crafts and activities.
Fire Horse Craft: Lunar New Year
Wyandanch Public Library, 14 South 20th St., Wyandanch
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5 – 6 pm
Ages 7 – 12
Free
Advanced registration required
Celebrate Lunar New Year by completing a Fire Horse Craft.
Lunar New Year Celebration 2026
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum & Reichert Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport
Saturday, Feb. 21, 10 am – noon
All ages
$20; $15 ages 5 – 11
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with paper lantern making, learning Chinese calligraphy, and creating traditional good luck decorations.
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