Ring in the Year of the Snake and commemorate the 15-day Lunar New Year—from Wednesday, Jan. 29 through Thursday, Feb. 13—with Chicago’s most fabulous offerings and events. From an awe-inspiring parade to a luxe six-course feast, we’ve rounded up the best ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Chicago.
View this post on Instagram
24th Street & Wentworth Avenue / Website
Date: Sunday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m.
Watch in awe as vibrant floats and traditional dragon and lion dancing teams fill the streets with colorful fanfare. Marching bands and marching groups will provide tunes and beats for the parade. The event is free to attend.
View this post on Instagram
Argyle Street & Sheridan Road / Website
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (parade kick-off at 1 p.m.)
Welcome the new year with an afternoon of community festivities. The annual Argyle Street parade will feature more than 20 local community groups, cultural institutions, performers and dancers. Additional pop-ups and family-friendly activities will line the streets. Then, get to know the area a bit more with a self-guided tour of the area’s vibrant murals and public artwork using the Uptown Chamber of Commerce’s public art map. The event is free to attend.
View this post on Instagram
108 E. Superior St. / Website
Date: Saturday, Jan. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 2
Head to The Peninsula Chicago for a slew of fabulous Lunar New Year celebrations, including traditional lion dancing, afternoon tea, Sunday brunch, festive decor and exclusive dining experiences. From Jan. 24 through Feb. 2, the Shanghai Terrace will serve its celebratory Yellow Earth cocktail and six-course Chinese menu, stocked with favorites like traditional Peking duck, homemade scallion chicken, wok-fried beef tenderloin with foie gras and more. Visitors can also partake in a lavish Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea in The Lobby (served at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. from Friday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 26) and view the annual lion dance at the hotel’s front entrance, beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25. For the first time, the destination is also hosting its Chinese New Year Sunday Brunch on Sunday, Jan. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The buffet feast is spread throughout four stations and includes highlights like XO beef tenderloin, sweet & sour prawns, kung pao chicken, Shanghai fried noodles and jade vegetables. For more information or to book a reservation, visit peninsula.com/en/chicago/chinese-new-year.
View this post on Instagram
2131 S. Archer Ave. / Website
Date: Monday, Feb. 3, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Join the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce in a grand traditional Lunar New Year dinner feast at one of the neighborhood’s most iconic restaurants. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased here.
View this post on Instagram
1516 West Carroll Ave. / Website
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 5:30 p.m.
Chefs Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwell’s Trading are teaming up with chefs Thai Dang (HaiSous) and Gene Kato (Itoko and Momotaro) to host a celebratory four-course Lunar New Year dinner, inspired by the chefs’ favorite family traditions and recipes. The family-style prix fixe menu includes highlights like five-spice braised short rib with stir-fried water spinach, càri cà monkfish cooked in a flavorful coconut broth, gỏi mực khô dried Saigon squid and a New Year osechi sushi box. The meal is priced at $117.10 per guest, reservations can be made here.
View this post on Instagram
216 W. Cermak Road / Website
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 to 9 p.m. (walk-ins welcome after 10 p.m.)
Chinatown cocktail hot spot Nine Bar’s annual Lunar New Year soirée is back to celebrate the Year of the Snake. The event features four reserved timeslots, and tickets grant entry, a welcome elixir and a complimentary gift from Ming River. Guests can indulge in an array of specialty cocktails and bites curated by chef Elvis Mom (Nine Bar) and Alvis Huynh (Ve Lai), inspired by the core principles of Chinese medicine and the concept of restoring the body’s balance. The evening will be set to festive beats from DJs Dirty Money and Ranee. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased here.
View this post on Instagram
840 E. Grand Ave. (Aon Grand Ballroom) / Website
Date: Saturday, Feb. 1, 1 to 5 p.m.
Celebrate the new year and AAPI cultures through the power of local performers. This afternoon music festival will feature contemporary music performances, as well as local artists, dancers and musicians. Join in this fun celebration of Chicago’s AAPI community. The event is free to attend.
2140 S. Archer Ave. / Website
Date: Jan. 25 & 26, Feb. 1 & 2, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Join the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute for its 20th annual celebration of dumpling-making, storytelling and traditional lion dancing on the second floor of Hing Kee Restaurant. Founder of the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, Z.J. Tong, has led the event for over 15 years, and this year’s event features a wide variety of Chinese culinary staples, from Mongolian beef to vegetarian offerings. Bring the whole family to learn a new tradition and to nosh on a lineup of delicious foods. The event is priced starting at $40 per child, 12 years old and under and $55 per adult. Tickets can be purchased here.
333 N. Green St.; 110 W. Illinois St. / Website
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 9
Visit Sunda New Asian’s River North and Fulton Market locations for a traditional lion dance performance, a festive atmosphere and a special menu of Lunar New Year specials. On the menu, find staples like Hong Kong steak lo mein, whole crispy snapper and lion’s head meatballs. The restaurant is also serving its holiday-exclusive Fortune Cookie signature cocktail, crafted with Heaven’s Door bourbon, clove orgeat syrup, lemon, coconut milk and orange bitters. Guests celebrating at Sunda receive a traditional red envelope filled with surprise treats, from complimentary desserts to appetizers and more. Reservations can be made here.
View this post on Instagram
5220 Fashion Outlets Way, Rosemont / Website
Date: Friday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 16
Head to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago for special discounts and a day of crafts and activities. On Saturday, Jan. 25, the shopping center will celebrate the start of the new year with games, lantern crafting, Chinese calligraphy, a chopstick challenge, dumpling making and more, all held in the food court starting at 1 p.m. Special cultural performances presented by Huaxing Arts Group take place from 2 to 2:30 p.m., featuring Kung Fu, Gu Zheng, Chinese yo-yo, a children’s choir and a dance program. Additionally, savvy shoppers will be excited to learn that traditional red envelopes will be passed to guests who visit Concierge Services between Jan. 24 and Feb. 16. Each complimentary envelope will contain special Lunar New Year offers and services from participating retailers and a premier pass that will provide up to $800 in savings from participating Fashion Outlets’ retailers. The event is free to attend.
Looking for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our picks for Chicago’s Best Spots for Mocktails.
Photography by: Paulo Evangelista / Unsplash
