Celebrate Lunar New Year on Long Island
Chinese New Year starts February 17th, 2026!
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with great food options and in-person and virtual events.
How The Year of The Horse Will Affect Your Zodiac Sign
Events
* events with 🔺 indicate events in Suffolk & Nassau Counties
All month - Queens Public Library - Lunar New Year programs, crafts and shows
Multiple Dates - Jericho Public Library - Jericho - 🔺 Chinese Dance
Every Weekend In February- Welcome To Chinatown - Manhattan- Lunar New Year Traditions Village - Come for home decor to usher in luck, recipes for auspicious dishes, fun games for the family and DIY Trays of Togetherness + so much more.
3/29 - Kupferberg Center for the Arts @ Queens College - Queens - The Peking Acrobats
1/23- 3/1 - Flushing Town Hall -Lunar New Year Exhibition - Art- Red Horizon
2/3 - Huntington Library- Huntington- Paint Your Own New Year Breyer Horse 🔺
2/6 - Jericho Library - The Realm of Dragons with the Whaling Museum 🔺
2/7- MOCA - Manhattan- MOCACREATE: Lunar New Year Museum Makeover- with Teaching Artist Yu Rong
2/7- The MET - Manhattan- Lunar New Year Festival - May art bring you good fortune! Celebrate the Year of the Horse, one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, with performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for all ages.
2/8- China Institute - Manhattan - Taste of China
2/8- China Institute - Manhattan - Chinese New Year Dinner
2/21- China Institute - Manhattan - Chinese New Year Centennial Lunar New Year Family Festival
2/21 - Heckscher Museum - Huntington - Ring in the Lunar New Year at the Museum with a festive, family-friendly celebration welcoming the Year of the Horse! 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. 🔺
2/20 - Huntington Library- Lunar New Year Craft and Book reading with Curious George 🔺
2/12- MOCA - Manhattan- MOCA Lunar New Year Mixer: Year of the Horse Celebration
2/17- MOCA - Manhattan- MOCACREATE: Lunar New Year Museum Makeover- with Teaching Artist Yu Rong
2/17- Sara D. Roosevelt Park - Manhattan- 28th New Year Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival
2/17- MOCA - Manhattan- MOCAKIDS: LNY Dumpling Extravaganza!
2/18- MOCA - Manhattan- MOCAKIDS: Meet & Greet with a Miniature Horse from HorseAbility & MOCACREATE with Teaching Artist Yu Rong
2/20 - Lincoln Center- Manhattan- Lunar New Year Dance Party
2/21- MOCA - Lunar New Year Family Festival - Morning & Afternoon Sessions
2/21 - Queens Mall - Queens - Experience the vibrant energy of The Chinese FreeMasons Lion Dancers and get creative with fun crafts for all ages with Chris Deng. Bring your family and friends to enjoy this festive afternoon and welcome the Year of the Horse with joy and culture!
2/21 - Flushing Chinese Business Association - Queens- Lunar New Year Parade
2/21- Vanderbilt Museum - Centerport - Lunar New Year Celebration 🔺 - Join us in celebrating the Year of the Horse. Make a paper lantern, learn Chinese calligraphy, and create traditional good luck decorations.
2/21- Queens Botanical Garden- Queens- Lunar New Year Celebration
2/22 - Lincoln Center- Manhattan- Lunar New Year Celebration
2/22 - Stony Brook- Charles B. Wang Center - Galloping Wonders Magic Q's Lunar New Year Spectacular🔺
2/25- MOCA - Lunar New Year Concert
2/25 - NY Philharmonic- Manhattan- Lunar New Year Gala
3/1 - Landmark on Main - Port Washington - Lunar New Year festivities include crafts, activities, food, and a live performance with traditional Chinese music. 🔺
3/1- Chinatown - Manhattan- Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
Lucky Foods
Chinese New Year food can be of great significance. Lucky food is served during the 16 day festival but especially on Chinese New Year dinner on New Year's Eve which is believed to bring about good fortune and luck for the coming year.
Here are some lucky foods and some of their symbolism:
1. Dumplings- fillings have various meaning- (stay away from ones with sauerkraut)
2. Spring Rolls- wealth
3. Good Fortune Fruit- Fullness - some fruits include tangerines and oranges
4. Noodles- longevity
5. Almond Cookies - Chinese almond cookies are thought to ring financial luck into the new year.
6. Fish - steamed fish is a regular dish on the Lunar New Year table - the pronunciation of the words for fish and abundance sound similar in Mandarin.
Check out Gold Belly and order Famous Nom Wah dumplings and siu ma. If you are local to Manhattan or Brooklyn you can also pick up a Lunar New Year dinner from Nom Wah.
Play the Game Tray of Togetherness to learn more
Order some take out...
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