Honor the turn of the calendar with these Lunar New Year activities and events in DC.
The Kennedy Center welcomes you and your entire family to this free Lunar New Year celebration on its Millennium Stage. Honor the Year of the Snake with performances of The Lion Dance by the Tai Yim Kung Fu School and songs from the Concert Chorale of Washington.
Free admission
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian's free National Museum of Asian Art, known for an extensive collection of vibrant and colorful Asian art, will ring in the Year of the Snake with a family festival filled with all kinds of fun dedicated to the Lunar New Year. Expect performances, talks, tours, hands-on activities and more.
Free Admission
Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Join the DowntownDC BID in welcoming the Year of the Snake with a free, family-friendly event. Engage in a day of unity and prosperity featuring Tai Chi, calligraphy art, lion dancers and traditional foods. The event will also feature live music, children’s activities and a flower market. The festivities continue down the street at New York Avenue Park with a lantern display and sidewalk chalk art.
Chinatown Park, I Street between 5th & 6th Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
Enjoy a specialty menu from renowned chef José Andrés' Peruvian-Asian fusion concept. Celebrate Chinese New Year with traditional dishes like seared turnip cakes, spring rolls and Cantonese poached chicken by head chef Daniel Lugo. Plus, you may even get to experience a traditional Lion Dance!
418 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) honors the Lunar New Year with this free celebration presented in partnership with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. Enjoy a plethora of Chinese and Korean traditions as well as dances, performances, arts and crafts, food and much more. The Kogod Courtyard Cafe will also offer a special Lunar New Year menu. Be sure to explore even more activities on SAAM’s Lunar New Year Family Zone.
Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Join Mayor Muriel Bowser in downtown DC for the 2025 Lunar New Year Parade in honor of the Year of the Snake. The annual parade includes colorful and diverse contingents, a ceremony with traditional performances and an exciting firecracker finale. The parade historically kicks off at 6th and I streets NW and the staged ceremony begins at the end of the parade route at 6th and H streets.
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6th and I Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
Join the DAR Museum in collaboration with the Vietnam Society, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office and the Fairfax High School Korean Club for a celebration of Lunar New Year traditions. This free, family-friendly event will feature live performances, activities and games.
Free Admission
1776 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Penn Quarter/Chinatown is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the District. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, as well as the shopping hub that is CityCenterDC. The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are housed in the same building across the street, while the National Gallery of Art is a short walk away. You can also check out a play at Ford’s Theatre or Shakespeare Theatre Company.
The Kennedy Center offers a plethora of digital programming focused on the Lunar New Year, including performances from past celebrations, on its website. Enjoy videos and an array of virtual learning options from DC's most beloved cultural institution.
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