Chinese New Year 2025 in Boston

Boston has the third largest Chinese community in the U.S., and the Chinese New Year celebration here is one of the biggest in the Northeast. Thousands of visitors flock to Boston's Chinatown and Theater District to watch lion dancers, accompanied by drums, cymbals, and firecrackers. It's also a chance to try numerous Chinese dishes and treat your taste buds to all sorts of Asian cuisine.

Chinatown Lion Dance Parade (February 9, 2025)

The major highlight of the celebration is Boston's annual Chinese New Year Parade, which takes place in Chinatown. The event is usually accompanied by a whirlwind of traditional activities, known as Cultural Village. The parade usually happens on the Sunday after the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year Parade runs from 11 am until 4:30 pm, with the procession taking place across Harrison Avenue, Essex Street, and Phillips Square.

Usually, the parade includes a dragon dance, and there are also a couple of "lions," a Buddha, and music bands with gongs and drums to set the rhythm. Smaller Lion dances occur during and after the parade in multiple locations. Performers go through local businesses in Chinatown, collecting red envelopes with cash. Restaurant owners also place offerings—cabbages and oranges—in front of the door for the dancers.

Chinese New Year Cultural Village (February 9, 2025)

Another highlight of the celebration is the Chinese New Year Cultural Village, located in the China Trade Center, on the corner of Boylston and Washington Streets. After the parade, attendees can enjoy additional entertainment there, such as cultural performances, traditional crafts, festive lanterns, balloons, and plenty of activities for children. The event kicks off at 10:30 am and spans until 3:30 pm.

Cantonese people were among the first Asian settlers of Boston in the 1870s. Therefore, the celebration and costumes at the Boston parade mainly reflect Cantonese traditions. During the Lunar New Year Celebrations, restaurants offer special meals with dishes that are supposed to bring good luck in the New Year.

Lunar New Year Flower Market (January 24–28, 2025)

Besides the Chinese New Year Cultural Village & Parade, Chinatown Main Street traditionally hosts a Lunar New Year Flower Market at the China Trade Center. Spanning several days, the event is filled to the brim with numerous vendors offering flowers, decorations for the perfect celebration of Lunar New Year, and souvenirs. The event takes place daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, with the opening day featuring lion dances. China Trade Center is situated right across from Chinatown Orange Line T stop, which makes it very easy to reach with public transportation.

Lunar New Year Festival in Peabody Essex Museum, Salem (late January, 2025)

Just 22 miles (35 km) away from Boston, Salem's Peabody Essex Museum hosts an annual Lunar New Year Festival, which usually lasts from 10 am until 4 pm. The event has been happening since 2003, drawing in more than 800,000 people over the years. The program is centered around traditions of the Lunar New Year and features educational workshops, such as making red envelopes, puppets, and Chinese traditional music. Admission is included in the museum ticket, which costs around $25 for adults and is free for children under 16 years old.