Go All-out with your Lunar New Year Celebrations at NO COST!

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!

From traditional parades to cultural performances and family-friendly activities, we found something for everyone to enjoy without spending a dime.

One of the coolest things to see is the annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade. Imagine: colorful floats, energetic lion, and dragon dances swirling through the intersection of 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue on February 9 (1PM), streets filled with marching bands playing lively tunes, and community groups showing off amazing traditional outfits. 

It’s a total feast for your senses! You’ll hear the drums and cymbals, see vibrant colors everywhere, and feel the energy of the crowd. Trust me, if you want to experience the heart of Chicago’s Lunar New Year, you don’t want to miss this.

But the celebrations aren't just in Chinatown! You'll find free Lunar New Year events happening all over the city. If you’re thinking about hitting two birds with one stone, how about a quick errand while Ringing in the Year of the Snake with Jewel-Osco? On Jan 24 (1-5:00PM CST) you can look forward to trying some delicious authentic dishes, watching a captivating Lion Dance Performance from 1-2 PM, and enjoying beautiful live traditional music from Chinese multi-instrumentalist Kerry Leung from 1-5 PM. 

Plus, there will be fun cultural activities for the whole family from The Chinese American Museum of Chicago, and you might even snag some awesome in-store savings and giveaways! It's going to be a great time!

If you’re looking into celebrating Lunar New Year on the day itself, DePaul University is hosting their 17th Annual Lunar New Year Gala on January 29 (6-8PM)!  Students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and friends – all are welcome to join and enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and some awesome cultural performances.The best part? It's free and open to the public! Just remember to RSVP. 

To make the celebration even more festive (and for great photos!), wear something red. And if you were born in a Year of the Snake (like 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, or 1953, and so on), be sure to show your ID and give your name to the check-in staff when you arrive. Who knows? Maybe you can test your luck and be one of the 10 Snake-year folks to receive a special Year of the Snake souvenir after the performance!

Want to go a step further and have a much more purposeful Lunar New Year? With this event from  CMAA Youth, you can connect with the local community on Feb 8 (10AM) at St. Augustine College (1345 W. Argyle St., Chicago IL, 60640). Here you can meet local elected officials and really dive deep into the community. You can also discover all the incredible services CMAA offers and learn how they're making a real difference. To top it off, you'll get to enjoy a delicious complimentary lunch while watching an exciting entertainment by the amazing CMAA Youth!

Okay, so you've heard about the CMAA Youth event, which sounds amazing! But if you're looking for even more Lunar New Year excitement, especially a classic Chicago experience, you absolutely have to check out the Argyle Street celebrations!

On Saturday, February 8th, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST, Uptown United and local businesses, non-profits, and cultural organizations are continuing a 40+ year tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year right along the Argyle commercial corridor in Uptown. 

Within those 6 hours, you can expect to see over 20 local community groups, cultural institutions, dancers, and performers! In between, the Lunar New Year Parade will kick off at 1:00 PM sharp at Argyle & Winthrop. It's definitely a full day of fun with lots of local organizations working together to create fun pop-up events with family-friendly activities.

Chicago's Lunar New Year celebrations are a perfect example of how much the city values its diverse cultures and coming together as one. These free events give you a fantastic chance to learn something new, connect with people, and honor the traditions of the Asian communities that make Chicago their home. 

If you think these free events are amazing, we’ve got something even more exciting just for you! For the first time, we're releasing The Editor's Cut - A FREE PDF GUIDE containing the full list of LNY Events happening around Chicago, traditions, gifting ideas and recommendations, and of course what's a Lunar New Year celebration without knowing one's fortune! Receive The Editor's Cut on January 26!

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We at CAN are dedicated to letting you explore Chicago's awesome festivities – because here in Chicago, there's always room for a celebration, and everyone is welcome to join the fun. Keep in touch and stay connected by following us on our socials Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and we’ll make sure you’re updated!