Year of the Golden Rabbit celebrations will take place today in New York City’s Chinatown (one of the oldest in the country) with the New Year’s Day Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Fair, at Roosevelt Park between Grand and Hester Streets. The festivities, which will last from 11 AM to 3:30 PM, will include music, food and, of course, plenty of firecrackers.
The festivities continue on Sunday, February 6, with the 12th annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival. The parade, which is one of Chinatown’s signature events, includes a festive display of traditional music, inventive dances, intricate dragon puppets, and much more. After starting at 11:30 AM in Little Italy, the parade winds its way through Chinatown and down the streets of Lower Manhattan. The accompanying cultural festival takes place at Sara Roosevelt Park, between Canal and Forsyth Streets, and lasts until 4:30 PM.
Closer to home, Feng Shui Master John Tsang will offer insight on what is to come in the Year of the Rabbit on ExploreChinatown. For the next several weeks, the talented Tsang will provide surprising and perceptive forecasts on the year ahead.
The festivities will wind down with traditional lion dance performances taking place throughout Chinatown on Saturday, February 12 from 11 AM to 5 PM. The annual event will feature competing clubs and dance leagues showing off their best moves to close the New Year celebrations. The groups will perform in front of businesses to bring good luck, with some establishments handing out red envelopes – a traditional Chinese custom – in return.
Chinatown and all listed New Year events are easily accessible by subway, bus or car. Directions and event information can be found by visiting http://www.explorechinatown.com
