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Gōng xǐ fā cái, Philly!
With a large and proud Chinese population, Philadelphia does Lunar New Year right, offering plenty of opportunities to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with traditional performances, special cuisine and the exchanging of lucky red envelopes (symbolizing good wishes and prosperity) taking place throughout the city.
For Lunar New Year this year (officially February 10, 2024), look forward to lion dances led by the iconic Philadelphia Suns in areas like Chinatown, Dilworth Park and Fashion District Philadelphia, as well as cultural celebrations at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Penn Museum.
Foodies can get their fill at one of the city’s many excellent Asian-owned restaurants, indulge in spectacular Lunar New Year banquets or take a more hands-on approach by learning to make traditional Chinese dishes during special workshops by the Dumpling Academy.
Learn about Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan and other Asian cultural traditions and scoop up some holiday treasures at the 43rd annual Lunar New Year edition of the Penn Museum’s signature CultureFest! series. The event includes live music, dance performances, family-friendly activities (like storytelling and make-and-take art), and a packed vendor marketplace. And don’t miss the grand finale: the traditional Lion Dance. CultureFest! activities are included with admission to the museum.
Where: Penn Museum, 3260 South Street
February 2, 9 & 10, 2024
Luk Fu Philly, a casual Asian fusion restaurant located inside Live Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, celebrates the Year of the Dragon with festive décor, acrobats and performers, lucky red envelopes, and special Lunar New Year cocktails (from soju bombs to spicy dragon-themed concoctions).
Where: Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, 900 Packer Avenue
February 3-25, 2024 (select dates)
The Dumpling Academy’s popular Chinese Lunar New Year Handmade Dumpling Making party is led by expert instructor Yin, who guides participants in preparing savory dumpling fillings before wrapping, cooking and enjoying together. Attendees will also learn to make Lunar New Year Tangyuan desserts and enjoy complimentary dim sum. The exact event venue is disclosed after registration.
The Main Line Art Center in Haverford presents a free (with a $10 suggested donation) Lunar New Year Celebration ushering in the Year of the Dragon with hands-on art activities for all ages and an outdoor performance of the iconic Lion Dance by the Philadelphia Suns.
Where: Main Line Art Center, 746 Panmure Road, Haverford
February 9 & 11, 2024
Philly’s Chinatown community gathers in the streets for two Lunar New Year parades led by The Philadelphia Suns. A late-night Lunar New Year’s Eve celebration kicks off at 10 p.m. from 10th and Spring Streets on Friday, February 9, 2024. And on Sunday, February 11, 2024, a daytime parade follows the same route at 11 a.m. The parades consist of music, lion dancing, drumming and firecrackers — meant to bring good luck to the local community.
Where: North 10th & Spring streets
Head to the historic homestead of internationally acclaimed author Pearl S. Buck for a family-friendly (and jam-packed) Lunar New Year celebration. Look forward to music, crafts, games, dumpling tastings and live entertainment ranging from calligraphy and traditional dance performances to puppet shows and Chinese yo-yo demos. This pay-what-you-wish event also includes optional tours of the Pearl S. Buck Historic Estate, with items on display like the typewriter she used to write the 1931 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Good Earth.
Where: Pearl S. Buck Historic Estate, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie
Bundle up for this free outdoor celebration at The Rail Park featuring light refreshments, family-friendly activities and a 2 p.m. performance from the Philadelphia Suns. The event is open to the public with no registration required.
Where: The Rail Park, 1300 Noble Street
Dates vary by event
Welcome a year of good luck and prosperity with an assortment of cultural events in the heart of Chinatown, including:
Where: Crane Community Center, 1001 Vine Street
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Tours depart from the Chinatown Friendship Gate, 10th and Arch Streets
The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosts an immersive Lunar New Year festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture. Artisans from the Zhejiang province of China take over the Great Stair Hall with a variety of demonstrations, including tea-whisking, sugar painting, rice sculptures, poetry couplets, puppetry and more. Plus, guests can create their own woodblock prints, learn about the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and receive a lucky red envelope. The Lunar New Year festival is included with general admission to the museum (and youth under 18 get in free).
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Party while you shop at the Fashion District during a free afternoon of family fun. This Lunar New Year celebration features Chinese lion dancers from the Philadelphia Suns, kids crafts and a special presentation by Korean performance company Ballet SunMi, where you can learn the history of Lunar New Year and even pick up some K-pop moves. The event is free to attend, but RSVPs are recommended.
Where: Fashion District Philadelphia, 901 Market Street
This brand-new Lunar New Year Celebration in Old City features red envelope surprise giveaways and a free dumpling workshop with Michael Chow from Sang Kee. After you’ve downed your dumplings, stick around for the free Electrical Spectacle Light Show and play Philly Mini Golf with Love and street curling. (Tip: Wear red for $1 off mini-golf or carousel rides!)
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street
Before taking a spin around the ice rink in the shadow of City Hall, pop into the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin to enjoy a special Lunar New Year event with a lunar holiday-inspired menu. The action continues outside on the plaza with a giant prancing lion and performances from traditional Chinese dancers.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street
The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation’s Chinese New Year Banquet features a cocktail hour and awards ceremony for those making a difference in the community. The annual event, held at Crane Community Center, raises funds to increase equitable outcomes for the AAPI immigrant community. Tickets and registration are required.
It wouldn’t be Lunar New Year without a good feast. Restaurants around Philly host special dining events welcoming the Year of the Dragon, including:
Where: Grand Palace Restaurant, 600 Washington Avenue
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Ember & Ash, 1520 E. Passyunk Avenue
High Street, 101 S. 9th Street
It’s never a bad time to support your favorite Asian spot or to discover a new culinary gem. Philly Asian cuisine spans Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Taiwanese, Thai and beyond, so whether you’re into top-tier sushi or mouthwatering hot pot, there’s a restaurant for you. Celebrate the best Asian cuisine this Lunar New Year — and year-round — with our roundup of great Asian-owned restaurants in Philadelphia and our guide to the best restaurants in Chinatown.
Where: Various locations including Kalaya, 4 W. Palmer Street
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks, including tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, or the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?