Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) Celebrations in Flushing

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year celebrations in Flushing start February 9, 2008, with Flushing's 13th annual Lunar New Year Parade at 11 a.m., going to 1 p.m. It's the Year of the Rat! (All dates confirmed as of February 4.)

Flushing, Queens, is home to one of the largest Chinese and East Asian populations in New York City, rivaling Manhattan's Chinatown. Also joining the parade are other East Asian groups in Queens, particularly the Korean community. Plus there are more New Year events in February.

• Flushing Restaurants

Lunar New Year Parade - February 9, 2008:
The parade is the highlight of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Flushing. Look for dragon dancers, steel drummers, and fireworks. About 4,000 people march each year.

Viewing Stands: At Flushing Library (Main and Kissena) and at the parade's end (Main and 37th Ave). Most people watch on Main St.

Route: Begins, Union St at 37th Ave > south on Union >> right on Sanford > right on Kissena > right on Main > ends at Main and 37th Ave. For more celebrations, the Chinese performers then head to the Flushing Mall, and the Korean contingent goes to Korea Village.

• When: February 9, 2008, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chinese Food and Folk Performances at Flushing Mall:
The Chinese performers in the parade end the procession with a celebration at the Flushing Mall, where VIPs give speeches and parade goers can check out the fab food court and the clothing and toy stores. There will also be children's choir, music, folk performances, Chinese calligraphy, and fireworks.

• Flushing Mall: 133-31 39th Ave, two blocks west of Main Street
• TBD - February 9, 2008, until 5 p.m.

Korean Lunar New Year Celebration at Korea Village:
The Korean parade contingent celebrates at Korea Village's Open Center, a cultural space, where there will be Korean food, games, dancing, martial arts, music, and a karaoke contest.

• Korea Village Open Center: 150-24 Northern Blvd at 150th St
• TBD - February 9, 2008, until 4:30 p.m., 718-353-8969

Lunar New Year Festival at Flushing Town Hall :
Flushing Town Hall hosts a Lunar New Year Festival all February with events and a month-long exhibit of traditional Chinese doors and windows in gallery.

Following the parade, there's a free performance with traditional dances from Korea, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia (February 9, 2 p.m.).

The following weekend, get calm with a traditional tea ceremony (February 16, 2 p.m., free).

The Chai Found Music Ensemble from Taiwan performs twice on February 23. The group explores traditional Chinese sizhu music, but with a modern edge.

• Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, at Linden
• Directions

Lunar New Year Festival at Flushing Library: Families, all ages will enjoy pan-Asian crafts, music, dances in colorful costumes, and more, throughout the library.

Note: This celebration is eight days prior to the main Lunar New Year Festival.

• Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St at Kissena Blvd, 718-661-1200
• January 21, 2007, starts at 10:30 a.m.

Parking in Flushing: The New Year's parade begins next to a large municipal lot, but arrive early if you want a spot. Especially for Saturday, February 17, public transportation is your best bet: LIRR (Port Washington Line, Flushing stop), or 7 train (Flushing Main Street stop). It's then a short walk to the festivities.

• Map of Downtown Flushing (Parking lot marked)
• Municipal Parking Lot: Union St, between 37th and 39th Aves.

Eating and Celebrating Lunar New Year: The real celebration starts after the parade and performances, and it's held in restaurants all around Flushing.

Many of my favorite restaurants are on Prince Street, including Spicy and Tasty (stellar Sichuan, 39-07 Prince St) and Green Papaya Thai (38-12 Prince St). One of the best dim sum restaurants in Flushing is Gala Manor (37-02 Main St, enter on 37th Ave).

Lunar New Year at Queens Library:
The Queens Library jumps with Lunar New Year activities and it jumps early, with the three big library events the weekend before the parade. Check the Library's events page for listing of activities across the borough. Here are the highlights:

Lunar New Year Celebration at Flushing Library

A day-long celebration that starts with crafts for all and a calligraphy workshop for adults in the morning. There's food sampling of traditional holiday specialties like Chinese dumplings and Korean rice cakes. Chinese and Korean song and dance follows in the afternoon.

• Lunar New Year at Flushing Library - February 17, 2007
• 41-17 Main St (and Kissena Blvd), 718-661-1200

Chinese New Year Celebration at Central Library

Lunar New Year starts early at the Central Library on January 25 with movies (Mulan and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and on January 26 Asian folk dance and music, martial arts, and Chinese Peking Opera.

• Lunar New Year at Central Queens Library - January 25 and 26, 2008
• 89-11 Merrick Blvd, Jamaica, 718-990-0700

Lunar New Year Festival at Elmhurst Library

Elmhurst also celebrates with a full day: in the morning it's arts and crafts and brush painting and calligraphy. At lunchtime, there are lucky red bags for kids and free food samples. In the afternoon there's song and dance programs.

• Lunar New Year at Elmhurst Library - February 2, 2008, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• 86-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, 718-271-1020

More at Queens Library

Libraries throughout Queens host more events tied to Chinese and Korean traditions in January and February. There's the "Korean Cinderella" story-telling in Woodside, Chinese beading workshops at many libraries, and a silk flower workshop and a flower arranging workshop. Check the Queens Library website for all events.