The Lunar New Year is a vibrant and joyous celebration observed by many cultures across East and Southeast Asia. While its roots lie in the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday has been embraced and adapted by numerous countries, each having their own unique traditions and customs.
Being a city of vibrant atmosphere, the Lunar New Year is one of Chicago’s best evidence of its diverse cultural canvas. As the city prepares to welcome the Year of the Snake, a multitude of free events are popping up across neighborhoods ready to make the celebration welcome the new era–and we will surely not let you miss it!
The Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy, an annual event organized by the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce since 2000, celebrates its 24th year with 37 teams competing in new race formats across two divisions. This vibrant festival, drawing over 10,000 visitors, combines thrilling dragon boat races with cultural entertainment, children's activities, and exhibition booths, supporting local literacy programs through its proceeds.
In a pandemonium brought about by several uncertainties, Barbara’s Bookstore stood firm to provide refuge for those who are seeking a sense of truce. Discover how the bookstore continues to thrive and champion the AAPI community today.
Lunar New Year get-togethers will surely pop-up left and right. If you don’t know where to go, no worries, we got you! Here’s a list of Lunar New Year celebrations in Chicago!
In celebration of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we are casting a spotlight on unsung modern-day heroes in our community with our latest campaign, #AsiansWhoCAN, and celebrating all our wins as a community with #iCAN.