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10 Ways to Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year With Kids in Boston
Whether you’re looking for traditional music and dance, a parade, a big Chinese New Year festival complete with a Lion Dance, or simply a fun craft to celebrate the the Lunar New Year, Boston has it all. Check out these great picks for families to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.
You’ll also find links for cooking traditional recipes for kids, children's books about the New Year, and visiting Boston’s Chinatown.
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
1. Lunar New Year Market and Food Festival - Quincy
Sun 2/12/2017
The Lunar New Year Market and Food Festival in Quincy is one of the largest celebrations in the region, and this year, there's a new twist. It has been changed to a market and food festival held before Lunar New Year to give visitors the chance to buy presents for loved ones. Visit North Quincy High School to shop and be sure to stop by the food court for traditional foods when the kids start to get hungry. FREE
2. Chinese New Year Story Time - Jamaica Plain
Sat 2/17/2017
Little ones and their caregivers can stop by the Connolly Library for this free session of stories, songs, and crafts to celebrate the new year. FREE
3. Craft Projects at Artbeat - Arlington
Sat 1/28/2017 and Sun 1/29/2017
Walk into Artbeat on January 28 or 29 to create a Lucky Red Rooster Lantern or a rooster finger puppet.
4. Lunar New Year Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts - Boston
Sat 2/4/2017
The MFA is celebrating the Year of the Rooster with a Lunar New Year Celebration. Browse the galleries to learn about Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions, and ring in the Lunar New Year with activities scheduled throughout the day. All activities are included with museum admission.
5. Monkey Makes Mischief in Heaven - Arlington
Sat 2/22/2017
Margaret Moody uses her spectacular puppets to present Monkey Makes Mischief in Heaven, an episode of the Chinese epic Journey to the West with traditional Taiwanese puppets.
6. Lunar New Year at Peabody Essex Museum - Salem
Sat 2/28/2017
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Peabody Essex Museum and welcome the Year of the Rooster with performances, art activities, storytelling, gallery tours, and films throughout the day. Don't miss the Lion Dance—the Gund Kwok women are amazing. Festivities are included in the cost of museum admission.
7.Chinese New Year at the Connolly Library - Jamaica Plain
Sun 1/30/2017
Families can celebrate the New Year by making a puppet, sampling Chinese food, and watching a Lion Dance. FREE
8. Hao Bang, Ah Rooster! - Brookline
Thu 3/23/2017 - Sat 3/25/2017
This show at the Puppet Showplace Theatre introduces audiences to traditional Chinese New Year customs, foods, and other animals of the Chinese zodiac. Sing-alongs, games, and a hands-on post-show demonstration make the Chinese language and cultural experience accessible to even the youngest audience members.
9. Chinatown's Chinese New Year Lion Dance Parade - Boston
Sat 1/28/2017
For a full-blown celebration, get bundled up and head out to Chinatown for the annual Lion Dance Parade. Starting at 10 am from the stage in Phillips Square (at Harrison Avenue and Essex Street), the parade is a tradition not to be missed. It is part of a whole day of festivities, including a Chinese New Year Cultural Village with Chinese arts and crafts for all ages. FREE
10. Celebrate Chinese New Year at Franklin Park Zoo - Boston
Sat 1/14/2017
Celebrate the Chinese Zoo Year with a special performance by the Chiu Mo Kwoon School performing a Hung Gar Kung Fu and Lion Dance in front of the Tropical Forest.
Other useful links:
- Attractions in Boston’s Chinatown (which happens to be the third largest Chinatown in the country, behind NYC and San Francisco)
- A great list of children’s books for the Chinese New Year from Apples 4 the Teacher
- Four Traditional Chinese Recipes for Growing Children from Sampan.org
Originally published Feb 2013; updated Feb 2015; updated Feb 2016, Jan 2017
Photo by Shane Godfrey Photography, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
