In 2012, on the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on January 23rd and is The Year of the Dragon. During this important celebration in the Asian culture, it is traditional to wear red, meant to ward off evil spirits.
Special Events in the Washington, DC Area
- Chinese New Year Parade and Festival in Washington, DC
January 29, 2012, 2 - 5 p.m., Giant Firecracker set off at 3:45 p.m. Chinatown - on H Street, NW, between 6th and 8th Streets. Each year a parade is held in Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment. See photos of the Chinese New Year Parade.
Celebrate from 12-5 p.m. at the Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival, Chinatown Community Cultural Center, 616 H Street, NW Washington, DC. Programs and activities will include: live music and dance performances, traditional Chinese calligraphy, children’s crafts, face painting, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, lion dancing, poetry readings, film screenings, art and photo exhibits, raffle prizes, New Year souvenirs, free giveaways, and much more. Special guest performances by: Wong People and students of Yu Ying Public Charter School.
Fair Oaks Mall Lunar New Year Celebration
January 28-29, 2012. Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks, Fairfax, VA. Ceremonies, performances and exhibitions will be presented from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, with most of the events centered in the Fair Oaks Mall Grand Court. Presented by the Washington Hai Hua Community Center, the event will feature traditional Chinese dragon dances; music and dance performances; martial arts demonstrations; children’s crafts; and a special lantern festival. More than 200 performers will participate in this year’s Lunar New Year festival, representing such countries and regions as China, Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Polynesia and the 50th state of Hawaii.
- Chinese New Year Festival - Falls Church
February 4, 2012, 9:30a.m.-5:15 p.m. Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA. The event, hosted by the Asian Community Service Center, offers live performances, New Year Parade ( 2 p.m.), children's games, Chinese language and cooking workshop, a variety of Asian food and much more.
- Gaithersburg Chinese New Year Events
January 23-February 5, 2012. Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland. View beautiful Chinese New Year decorations and exhibits throughout the mall. Live entertainment (weekends, noon-5:00 p.m.) includes traditional lion and dragon dances, folk dances and martial arts demonstrations. Demonstrations and workshops include flower/bonsai arrangement, arts and crafts, painting and games.
- Rockville Chinese New Year Celebration - two events!
January 21, 2012, 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Lunar New Year Celebration and Parade Rockville Town Square, 200 E Middle Lane, Rockville, Maryland. Parade begins at 11:00 a.m. Activities: Parade, Tai Chi performers, lion dancers, 18-person golden dragon, VisArt Center exhibitions, vendors, children’s arts & crafts.
February 3, 2012, 7 p.m. Rockville High School Auditorium, 2100 Baltimore Road, Rockville, Maryland. The Mayor and Council of Rockville and the City's Asian Pacific American Task Force host the Lunar New Year Celebration featuring Asian American dance and music performances and light appetizers before the performance beginning at 6:15 p.m.
- Chinese New Year at Montgomery County Public Libraries
Thirteen branches of the public libraries welcome the new year with a variety of programs. Music, dance and special performances feature the sights, sounds and cultures of China, Korea and Vietnam. Programs include introduction to customs behind the Lunar New Year, traditional dances, hands-on art activities, puppet shows, healing and martial arts demonstrations including tai-chi and kung fu, calligraphy, crafts, customs, Chinese yo-yo, workshops and children's activities, and the traditional Chinese lion dance. For specific schedules, visit the Montgomery County Public Libraries website
- Asian Spring Celebration in Frederick
February 17, 2012. Weinberg Center for the Arts, Frederick, Maryland. The Lunar New Year Celebration includes a two part program – a Reception themed ‘A World of Splendor’ at 5 p.m. and the Asian Spring Concert at 7 p.m. The reception features Asian art, cuisine, crafts, and performance. Tickets are $100. The concert features a diverse group of artists ranging from Chinese zithers to Indian dancers, from Korean drummers to Burmese singers, from Hawaiian delight to Indonesian rhythm, from flying swords to rock stars. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for age 12 and under.
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