15 Lunar New Year Celebrations Around Boston 2023
When:
Saturday, Jan 14, 2023 9:00a -
Saturday, Feb 04, 2023 10:00p
Saturday, Jan 14, 2023 9:00a -
Saturday, Feb 04, 2023 10:00p
Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
$Varies
Categories:
Art, Date Idea, Festivals & Fairs, Good for Groups, Kid Friendly, Meetup, Nightlife, Seasonal
Event website:
https://link.joyraft.com/gQU7r63YGwb
2023 marks the Year of the Rabbit (or the Year of the Cat, depending on where you live.) It's a time of longevity, peace, and prosperity. There are many ways to celebrate including making (& devouring) dumplings, lighting a lantern, or trying your hand at lion dancing!
By Kenneal Patterson
Experiences are listed in chronological order.
Chinese New Year Flower Popup Market
When: Sat, 1/14-Sat, 1/21; 9am-6pm
Where: Chinatown
Cost: FREE
What: It’s your one-stop shop for all the Lunar New Year merch you could ever dream of. This annual flower popup market has bamboo stalks, red flora, traditional goodies, and so much more.
Tet in Boston: Vietnamese Day Festival & Night Concert
When: Sun, 1/15; 10:30am-5pm & Sun, 1/29; 6:30-11:30pm
Where: South Boston & Dorchester
Cost: $5 & $50+
What: The Vietnamese Lunar New Year, or Tết Nguyên Đán, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnamese culture. Each year, the event attracts over 2,000 attendees and 80 vendors— all equally excited to join in on the January festivities. Continue the celebration with the night concert featuring talented Vietnamese artists.
Brookline Lunar New Year Celebration
When: Sat, 1/21; 12-3pm
Where: Brookline
Cost: $5-15
What: An evening of Taiwanese apps? Say less. This year, Boston’s Taiwanese community groups are producing something unforgettable: a festive night of food, games, music, and celebration.
Lunar New Year at New Art Center
When: Sun, 1/22; 12-3pm
Where: Newton
Cost: FREE
What: Celebrate Lunar New Year through Korean traditions. At New Art Center, you can get crafty— in one day alone, create hapjukseon (paper fans), rabbit origami, clay rabbits, and Korean calligraphy bookmarks. When you get tired, watch live Korean dancing.
Chinese New Year at Fo Guang San Temple
When: Sun, 1/22; 10am-12:30pm
Where: Cambridge Highlands
Cost: FREE
What: On Jan.22, head to Fo Guang San Buddhist Temple for an extra special celebration. You can spend the day watching traditional dances, admiring live music, watching a lantern painting competition, and so much more!
Chinese New Year at the Mandarin Oriental
When: Mon, 1/23; 12-12:30pm
Where: Back Bay
Cost: FREE
What: It’s time to chase away those evil spirits. In Chinese culture, lion dancing is a way to get rid of the old and bring in the new: a new year of happiness, peace, and good fortune! Watch the magnificent performance at the Mandarin Oriental.
When: Sun, 1/28; 12-1:30pm
Where: Kendall Square
Cost: FREE
What: If your mouth’s watering just thinking about dumplings, imagine making them yourself. You can devour dozens after learning from the top chefs in Boston. You can also get in the Lunar New Year spirit with a class at Selfup Venue or Patty Chen’s Dumpling School.
When: Sat, 1/28; 3-4pm
Where: Kendall Square
Cost: FREE
What: If you don’t know much about Chinese culture, it might be time for a history lesson. Learn about China’s Civil War during a Lunar New Year book panel with esteemed author and Brown University Professor Zhuqing Li.
Lunar New Year at Peabody Essex Museum
When: Sat, 1/28; 10am-4pm
Where: Salem
Cost: $0-20
What: Your day trip to Salem is worth it for the Peabody Essex Museum. Here, you can celebrate Lunar New Year with a jam-packed day of storytelling, art-making, and dance. What’s better, you can tour the museum’s 200-year old Chinese home.
Chinese New Year Parade and Cultural Village
When: Sun, 1/29; 10am-3pm
Where: Chinatown
Cost: FREE
What: From colorful costumes to magical parades to traditional performances, Boston goes all out for Chinese New Year. On Jan. 29, head downtown for phenomenal lion dancing, street food, live music, and firecrackers. Stop by the Cultural Village and immerse yourself in a pop-up town that’s fit for the whole family.
Lunar New Year at Pao Arts Center
When: Sun, 1/29; 11am-3pm
Where: Chinatown
Cost: FREE
What: Looking for a family-friendly Lunar New Year? Look no further. Pao Arts Center has the perfect activities for you and your kiddos, including interactive games and even lion dance workshops!
When: Thu, 2/2; 5-10pm
Where: Back Bay
Cost: $5+
What: There are almost too many ways to ring in the Year of the Rabbit at the beloved MFA. On Feb. 2, stop in for Chinese brush painting, kung fu demonstrations, traditional lion dancing, historical discussions, magnificent music performances, and a whole exhibit of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese art.
When: Sat, 2/4; 6-10pm
Where: Newton
Cost: $10-25
What: The GBCCA— or Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association— knows how to throw a good party. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a delicious dinner, live performances, thrilling games (like Mahjong), and other festivities.
***
As the days get longer and warmer, we’re welcoming spring with open arms. Happy Lunar New Year, we hope that the Year of the Rabbit brings you abundance and joy!
[Photo by mgstanton / CC 2.0]
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