Spend Lunar New Year in New York City: Where to Dance, Dine and Spread Good Vibes From Bushwick to Hudson Yards
- JAHLEAH SANTIAGO
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
We have another chance to set intentions for 2026, with Lunar New Year coming up soon on Tuesday, February 17th. As the New Moon arrives and the Lunisolar calendar welcomes the Year of the Horse, people all across the city get ready to dance, rejoice and come together! Here are some of the ways you can spend Lunar New Year in New York City with parties, delicious bites, and more over the next couple weeks.
A Family Friendly Lunar New Year Festival at The MET
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at The Met with a museum-wide festival honoring the Year of the Horse on Saturday, February 7th from 12 PM to 5 PM made possible, in part, by the generous support of Sharon Wee and Tracy Fu. This all-ages celebration invites visitors to welcome the new year through vibrant performances, hands-on activities, and artist-led workshops inspired by the traditions and symbolism of the Chinese zodiac. Guests are encouraged to check back for the full schedule of events .
For more information by visiting, https://engage.metmuseum.org/events/education/celebrations/festivals/fy26/lunar-new-year-festival-2026/
Encore Broadway Queens Lunar New Year in New York City
Flushing Town Hall is pleased to partner with Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral arts organization for adults 55 and over! Encore Creativity creates meaningful arts experiences, supporting lifelong learning, wellness, and fun for all older adults. Encore Creativity’s Fall 2025 rehearsal season begins in August! Meet new friends and explore the magic of musical theatre in Encore Broadway, where you’ll sing show tunes in four-part harmony!
Experience Lust Caution: Violenza Taboo Cabaret at The Red Pavilion on 1/31
As the lights dim, step into the world of liberation at The Red Pavilion (1241 Flushing Ave) and find yourself among the whispered tales and sordid characters of a neo-noir fantasy. Lust Caution: Violenza Taboo Cabaret. This one of a kind spectacle takes place Saturday, January 31st from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM, inviting guests into a seductive, ever-shifting evening. The night will be led by a rotating cast of nightlife luminaries performing live burlesque, aerial, cirque, sideshow, and ritual theater. In this special Violenza edition, audiences are guided down the crooked hallway of the shadow self through performances steeped in taboo eroticism, cinematic fetish, and giallo fantasy, promising a show like no other. Doors open at 8:30 PM and the show begins at 9 PM. For more information or tickets visit, https://www.viewcy.com/event/lust_caution_violenz_11
Lunar New Year at Hudson Yards
The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards usher in the Year of the Horse with a multi-week Lunar New Year celebration featuring immersive décor, cultural programming, and seasonal retail moments. Festivities include lanterns, hand fans, traditional red envelopes, and two dramatic 12-foot-tall horse sculptures surrounded by vibrant florals, on view beginning February 4th.
Lantern-Making Workshops with the New York Chinese Cultural Center
In partnership with the New York Chinese Cultural Center, Hudson Yards debuts complimentary Lantern-Making Workshops for the first time on February 4th and February 11th at 5:30 PM. Held on Level 2 outside Bronx Brewery, these hands-on sessions invite visitors to participate in a meaningful Lunar New Year tradition while celebrating community and craftsmanship.
Lunar New Year Promotion at The Edge & The Vessel Turns Red
To mark the holiday, Edge—the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere—offers a limited-time Lunar New Year promotion on general admission tickets, inviting visitors to take in sweeping city views as part of the celebration. General Admission tickets are 20% off using promo code “LUNAR20” at checkout, valid on booked dates from February 2nd through February 22nd.
Hudson Yards’ iconic Vessel will glow red in honor of the Lunar New Year throughout the holiday period, creating a striking visual moment. The landmark reopens for the season on February 27th, welcoming visitors back just as the festivities conclude. Book advanced tickets here.
Cultural Performances: Lion Dance, Dunhuang Dance & Shaolin Kung Fu
The Great Room on Level 1 comes alive with a rotating lineup of live performances honoring Chinese cultural heritage. Guests can experience traditional lion dances, the fluid beauty of Dunhuang silk ribbon dance, and NEW Shaolin Kung Fu performances, presented across multiple afternoon showtimes on both Saturdays. Showtimes for Traditional Lion and Dunhuang Dances are scheduled on Saturday, February 7th at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM and Dunhuang Dance and Shaolin Kung Fu on Saturday, February 21st at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM.
Attend THE LUNAR FRONTIER: Cowboy Bepop x Year of the Horse on 2/17
The Red Pavilion (1241 Flushing Ave) invites anime fans in for a special night honoring the sounds of the popular Cowboy Bebop series while celebrating Lunar New Year on Tuesday, February 17th. From 7 PM to 8:30 PM guests will saddle up to enjoy music inspired by the cult classic performed by Eternal Wind, the cinematic jazz quintet led by Owen Chen. Drawing from the language of bebop, post-bop, and contemporary jazz, the group reshapes familiar themes into music that feels intimate, restless, nostalgic and alive.
For more information or to find tickets visit, https://www.viewcy.com/event/the_lunar_frontier_a
Celebrate at Year of The Horse with Kim Anh Presented by Fish Market on 2/20
The Red Pavilion (1241 Flushing Ave) will host Year of the Horse, a 21+ late night party presented by Fish Market in celebration of sound, movement, and Lunar New Year serendipity on Friday, February 20th, starting at 10 PM. The evening features Eastbound Echo 東行回音, led by bassist Julian Wittich, reimagining Mandopop classics through lush, jazz-inspired arrangements with dual vocalists, keys, sax, trumpet, and drums, alongside aerial performances by Subtle Asian Polers, NYC’s celebrated community of AAPI pole and aerial artists known for bringing cultural identity to life on pole, silks, and lyra. After midnight, Kim Anh takes over the decks for a dance-forward DJ set through 3 AM. Doors open at 10 PM, live performances run from 10:30 PM to midnight, and the event will be livestreamed on Pulse.
To RSVP and find more information visit Posh: https://posh.vip/f/53625
Insun Park & Generals Concert
Insun Park & Generals Concert plays a groundbreaking fusion of rock, Korean traditional music, and mask dance rhythms. Leading the group is Insun Park, a master of the Gangnyeong Mask Dance, a traditional Korean dance. Park blends her dynamic vocal and dance performances with the talents of her fellow band members: Donghyuk Heo (composer/guitar), Hyunmo Yang (drums), Johyun Kim (taepyeongso/flute), and Hahyungki Baek (bass guitar). The result is a blend of ancestral art and contemporary sound that merges traditional rhythms with modern rock influences. By pushing creative boundaries and offering a fresh perspective on Korea’s cultural heritage, Insun Park & Generals celebrates traditional mask dance with today’s audiences.
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