The Year of the Snake is here. These slithering reptiles are not very social, but Queens residents might think they travel in huge groups due to the large number of local festivities honoring them.
We recently reported on dance performances, bargains, a live mural painting, and a K-pop event, but we were only just getting started. Lunar New Year fun continues for the next few weeks in the World’s Most Diverse Borough. Details follow.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Queens Center Mall hosts two hours of vibrant energy with the Chinese FreeMasons Lion Dancers and a talented local singer. Plus, the Asian American Arts Alliance will organize crafts for all ages. Free. 1 pm to 3 pm. 90-15 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst.
Sunday, Feb. 2
Queens Museum welcomes the New York Chinese Cultural Center to celebrate with traditional folk dances, vibrant cultural performances, and hands-on artistic activities, such as calligraphy and ink brush painting. Pay-what-you-wish admission. 1 pm to 5 pm. NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Queens Botanical Garden gets into the spirit with costumes, dances, music, food, and the color red. (Lots of red.) Noon to 4 pm. Free. 43-50 Main St., Flushing.
Queens Public Library’s Rego Park Branch presents Olivia Lu on harp and piano, accompanied by young musicians. Expect Bach, Beethoven, and traditional Lunar New Year songs and information on the milestone’s origins and cultural significance. Free. 3 pm. 91-41 63rd Dr., Rego Park.
Sunday, Feb. 9
Bayside Village BID organizes three hours of dance, martial arts, a choir, violinists, food, and other activities with support from the NYC Department of Small Businesses. Free. 2 pm to 5 pm. Bayside United Methodist Church, 38-20 Bell Blvd.
Queens Public Library’s Flushing Branch offers a concert featuring the New York Bao’an Culture and Arts Center. The lineup includes a diverse selection of classic Chinese compositions, performed in ensemble, duet, and solo formats, including Spring Festival Overture, Dance of the Golden Snake, Peking Opera Tunes, The Bond of the Qin (on Chinese zither), Chinese Folk Songs, and Cantonese music. Free. 2 pm to 4 pm. 41-17 Main St., Flushing. Plus, click here to watch the event on zoom. (Meeting ID: 893 8020 4220; Passcode: 020925.)
Editor’s note: We will add more events as they become available. To get an event listed above, send an email to [email protected].
Top image: Queens Museum; bottom image: Queens Center Mall