New York City recently became the second major American City to include the Lunar New Year in the official school calendar, and for the sixth year running, seven leading New York City Asia-focused cultural organizations will take part in CelebrASIA NYC: New Year’s Festivities for Families. The three-month long series encompassing pan-Asian cultural traditions launches at Japan Society on Sunday, January 24, with New Year’s Celebration: Oshogatsu, and continues through March in Manhattan and Queens. Check out the 2016 CelebrASIA event lineup below.
To order tickets, contact the sponsoring organization. For more information, visit www.celebrasia.org.
New Year’s Celebration: Oshogatsu
Sunday, January 24, 2016, 1:00-4:00 pm
Japan Society, 333 East 47th St.
Celebrate the New Year holiday at Japan Society’s annual Oshogatsu event and participate in various traditional activities. Families watch live taiko drumming and accompanying lion dancing (shishi-mai) and have the chance to participate in a brief taiko practice session at either 1:30 or 2:30 PM (session is chosen at time of ticket purchase). Other fun activities include rice pounding (mochi-tsuki), calligraphy (kakizome), kite (tako)-making, traditional games (fukuwarai), and top spinning (koma-mawashi). Recommended for all ages. Tickets: $18/$10 Japan Society & corporate members; children ages 2 and under FREE. Price includes festival (1:00–4:00 pm) and one taiko drumming session at either 1:30 or 2:30 pm. More at 212-715-1258 or www.japansociety.org.
Family Day: Korean New Year
Saturday, January 30, 1:00-5:00 pm
The Korea Society, 950 Third Avenue, 8th Floor
Celebrate Sollal, the Korean New Year, with a day of fun-filled family activities at The Korea Society! Enjoy storytelling based on Korean folk tales and practice sebae, the New Year’s bow, to show respect for elders. Try Korean brush painting, make a tasty treat, play traditional games, and participate in arts and crafts projects. Tickets: Members $25 per family of 3-5 ($5 each additional family members); $10 individuals; Non-members: $30 per family ($5 each additional family members); $15 individuals. More at www.koreasociety.org.
Losar Family Day: Celebrate the Year of the Fire Monkey
Saturday, February 6, Noon-4:00 pm
Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street at Seventh Avenue
Spend the Lunar New Year with family and friends at the Rubin. The afternoon of art, crafts, and music will celebrate Losar, the Himalayan New Year. Learn about traditional celebrations, go on a family tour of the galleries, enjoy music from the region, and make auspicious crafts to take home. Tickets: Children: $10; Adults: Free with the price of admission; Children under 1: Free; Cool Culture Members: Free. More at www.rmanyc.org.
Moon Over Manhattan: Celebrate the Lunar New Year!
Saturday, February 6, 1:00-4:00 pm
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
Asia Society rings in the Year of the Monkey with performances and traditional craft activities inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia. Activities will include a Lion Dance and kung fu demonstration, musical performances, and more. Tickets: $5 students, seniors, children; $7 members (Dual Family members FREE); $12 nonmembers. Tickets available the day of event. More at www.asiasociety.org.
Chinese New Year, Year of the Monkey
Sunday, February 13, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
China Institute, 125 East 65th Street
Kick off the Year of the Monkey with a free lion dance and kung fu demonstration in front of our new space at 100 Washington Street. Following the lion dance, join us inside China Institute for traditional food and New Year-themed workshops and activities including dumpling making, paper cutting, and a special Year of the Monkey craft. Tickets: General admission FREE. Workshop admission: $10 adult members, $5 child members; $15 adult non-members; $5 child non-members. More at www.chinainstitute.org.
Lunar New Year Family Festival
Saturday, February 20, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street
Go bananas this New Year at MOCA! Celebrate Chinese and Chinese American traditions and folk arts with zodiac themed arts and crafts, festive music and dance performances, teaching artist demonstrations, storytelling, and much more monkey business! Enjoy other New Year and exhibition themed family workshops every first and third Saturday, and decode the Chinese almanac’s predictions for the Year of the Monkey on Saturday, January 30! Tickets: $10/person; $8 for all MOCA Dual and Individual Level Members; Free for MOCA Family Level Members and above, children under 2, and Cool Culture families. More at www.mocanyc.org.
Calligraphy on Chinese Silk Fans
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd
Welcome the Year of the Monkey with a calligraphy workshop led by Asian arts specialist Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou. Learn basic calligraphy to write your new year’s wishes. Participants will begin by writing on paper and then write their messages of good fortune on Chinese silk fans. Every time you wave your fan you’ll be spreading your positive message into the New Year! Tickets: Adults $10; members and children $8 (materials included). More at www.flushingtownhall.org.
Monkey Mask Decorating Workshop
Sunday, February 28, 1:30 pm
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd
In this creative and engaging workshop, children will discover the beauty of Korean culture while crafting and dancing. After a brief introduction about Tal (Korean traditional mask) Dance, children make their own Monkey Tal to celebrate the Year of the Monkey and learn Tal Dance moves. This workshop will stimulate your child’s eye-hand coordination, movement skills, and most importantly, curiosity about new cultures. Tickets: Adults $10; members and children $8 (materials included). More at www.flushingtownhall.org.
Spring into Nowruz: Celebrate the Persian New Year!
Saturday, March 12, 1:00-4:00 pm
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the beginning of spring. Discover the spirit of Nowruz with traditional music, dance and crafts from Central Asia and Iran. Co-presented by Pardis for Children. Tickets: $5 students, seniors, children; $7 members (Dual Family members FREE); $12 nonmembers. Tickets available the day of event. More at www.asiasociety.org.
Click here to learn more about Lunar New Year celebrations in Asia!
Want to stay local?
• Click here for details on the Year of the Monkey celebration at the Staten Island Zoo.
• Click here for details on the Lunar New Year celebration at the Staten Island Children’s Museum.
• Click here for details on the Year of the Monkey craft at Greenbelt Nature Center.
