RRRRRRR RRRRRRR Like a Dungeon Dragon! Celebrate Lunar New Year With Events Across DC

The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is one of the most important and most celebrated holidays in China and many parts of Asia — and the D.C. region will be celebrating it with food, art and dancing lions.

Check out the can't-miss events to celebrate and bring you good luck and prosperity.

ART + PERFORMANCES

Kennedy Center Lunar New Year Celebration. Prepare for a joyous celebration with lion dancing and drumming performances at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage. 🆓 Kennedy Center // Jan 27

Lunar New Year: Ring in the Year of the Dragon. Join the Arts Club of Washington for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and a performance by premiere modern dance company, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company.  💰Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St NW // Feb 10

Giant Dragon Art Installation. Head to the Conrad Hotel to see the spectacular giant dragon art installation, an awe-inspiring symbol of prosperity and good fortune for 2024--the Year of the Dragon.  Designed by local Chinese architect and designer My Ly, the giant sculpture combines traditional and contemporary artistry, featuring intricate details, vibrant colors, and dynamic movement to captivate the essence of the mythical creature. 🆓  Conrad Hotel, 950 New York, Ave NW // Now thru Feb 24

FESTIVALS + PARADES

National Museum of Asian Art’s Lunar New Year Family Festival. Jump into the new year with free performances, cooking demonstrations, crafts, and a gallery tour. Check out a panel discussion with chefs from across the region, and pick up a treat for sale from D.C.’s Rose Ave Bakery or other vendors if you get hungry. 🆓 National Museum of Asian Art // Feb 3

Visit the Chinese American Museum. Stop by the first and only museum in our nation’s capital dedicated to the Chinese American story and celebrate the Year of the Dragon with music, snacks, tea, demonstrations, giveaways, story time, family-friendly crafts, and greet Xiongmao the Panda. Registration required. 🆓​ Chinese American Museum // Feb 10

Lunar New Year Family Celebration at Smithsonian American Art Museum. Smithsonian's annual celebration is presented in partnership with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. Enjoy Chinese and Korean traditions with lots of activities, including dances, performances, arts and crafts, food and much more. The Kogod Courtyard Cafe will also offer a special Lunar New Year menu. Stick around for the lion dance that caps off the celebrations. 🆓 Smithsonian American Art Museum // Feb 10

Lunar New Year Family Festival. Visit one of the Smithsonian's lesser-known museum's for a family-friendly festival with activity stations, crafts, book readings, and lion dance performances. Presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. 🆓 National Postal Museum // Feb 10

Chinese Lunar New Year Parade, Don't miss one the biggest events of the Lunar New Year! The annual parade features lion dance teams to marching bands to Scout groups, to the streets of D.C.’s Chinatown around the Friendship Archway. The big finish is a firecracker show right on H Street NW. ​🆓​ Sixth and I streets NW to Sixth and H streets // Feb. 11

DAR Museum’s Lunar New Year Festival. The Daughters of the American Revolution, in partnership with the Vietnam Society, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office, and the Fairfax High School Korean Club, host a family celebration with games, activities and performances. Registration required.  🆓 DAR Museum, 1776 D St. NW // Feb. 17

FOOD + DRINK

Tea at Ching Ching Cha. Find your zen at this Chinese tea room in Dupont Circle which brews and sells more than 70 kinds of tea. Ching Ching Cha operates as both a tea room and shop, selling niche items that allow you to take the tea ritual experience home. Tea products are displayed along the walls while the main space of the tea room is filled with intricately carved rosewood tables and chairs for sitting and sipping. 💰1314 21st Street,NW // Any time

Evening at the Embassy of China — A Year of the Dragon Celebration, Enjoy a night at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, with a buffet dinner prepared by the embassy’s chef and take a closer look at the building’s architecture and decor, including paintings and artifacts. A tea ceremony with blends from China’s southwestern Yunnan province will be another highlight during this night out. ​💰 Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 3505 International Pl. NW // Feb. 1

Chinese New Year Eve Dinner Series: Hand Pulled Noodles Workshop. Learn to make handmade noodles as part of a traditional Lunar New Year's feast. Afterward, have a meal together with snacks, including dumplings, sticky rice balls and candied hawberries. 💰 Galeria kitchen inside La Cosecha @ The Union Market District // Feb 4

Lunar New Year Cocktails at Conrad Hotel. Raise a glass to health, wealth and prosperity with a Year of the Dragon special themed cocktail menu and food items in Conrad's bar and lounge. And don't miss the giant red dragon installation by local Chinese architect and artist My Ly in the lobby! It'll be there until Feb. 24.

Chang Chang’s Chinese New Year Banquet Dinner. Famed chef Peter Chang’s D.C. restaurant Chang Chang dishes up a Lunar New Year feast with Peking duck, chicken clay pot soup, New Year’s pork dumplings and more dishes. Cocktails available for purchase before the meal begins. Tickets/reservations required. 💰​ Chang Chang, 1200 19th St. NW, Suite 110 // Feb 8

The Stories Behind the Chinese Menu. Join journalist Lisa Ling and Grace Lin, the author of “Chinese Menu: The History, Myths and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods.” for an online discussion about the origin stories behind Chinese American favorites like wonton soup or fortune cookies.  Ticket holders can pick up a copy of the book for a discount in advance of the talk at Bold Fork Books. 💻💰Online // Feb 8

China Chilcano. Enjoy the start of the Lunar New Year with special dishes and cocktails inspired by abundance and being together at Chef José Andrés’ Peruvian-Chinese restaurant. The menu includes Zhá yú, a whole fried fish that is served with a sauce made from cilantro, ginger, scallions, and fresno peppers.  And on Saturday, February 10th, enjoy a traditional Lion Dance led by the artists at Tai Yim Kung Fu beginning at 6pm.  💰​China Chilcano // Feb 8 - 11

CHIKO. Fusing Chinese and Korean cuisine, CHIKO will be kicking off the celebration on Friday, February 9th at the Cap Hill location with the return of the CHIKO After Dark Series. Throughout the rest of the week, CHIKO will also have a range of delicious ‘Every Day’ specials, classes, and guest chef dinners available from February 10th to February 17th. Tickets and/or reservations required for select events 💰​ Feb 9 - 17​

Tiger Fork. Serving up curated cocktails and dim sum, the Hong Kong-style den in Blagden Alley will be serving up an exciting lineup of events and food specials to celebrate NYE. Follow socials for the latest. 💰TBD