Join us on February 24 at 10 am on Whitney Avenue to ring in the New Year with our lion dance parade. After the parade, attend workshops, performances, and more at our partner venues.

Lunarfest is Connecticut’s largest annual Lunar New Year celebration. Featuring a traditional lion dance troupe, local artists, and local organizations, the annual festivities are full of learning, culture, arts, and fun.

Schedule:

Lion Dance Parade
Whitney Avenue between Grove and Trumbull, 10:00 am-11:30 am
Join us for the parade down Whitney Avenue to ring in the Year of the Dragon. The parade will begin at the intersection of Whitney Avenue and Grove Street and move north. Our showstopper featuring speeches from local leaders, the traditional lion dance, and performances by the Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy students will take place in front of Katalina’s and Hong Kong Market.

Zodiac Scavenger Hunt in the Whitney-Audubon Arts & Retail District, 9:30 am-11:30 am
Get your clue list at the info tent in front of Hong Kong Market and Katalina’s.  Find all 12 zodiac animals in storefront windows to win a prize.  A gift card to Katalina’s Bakery, Willoughby's Coffee & Tea, or Haven Hot Chicken will awarded to the first 50 people who bring a completed clue list to the info tent.  One gift card per family.  Other prizes will be available for those who complete the hunt when gift cards are gone.

Post-Parade Festivities:

New Haven Museum:
Location:114 Whitney Avenue
Tai chi & Wushu Performance and Class with Shifu Shirley and Master Jack, 12:30 pm-2:00 pm, Ballroom
New Haven Museum and New England Asian American Cultural Center are hosting a showcase featuring Kung Fu and Tai Chi demonstrations by Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy and Aiping Tai Chi, as well as mini-classes for attendees.
Tai Chi at 12:30 pm-1:15 pm
Wushu at 1:15 pm-2:00 pm

Workshop with Eli Whitney Museum Apprentices, 2:45 pm-3:30 pm, Ballroom
Participate in this hands-on workshop led by Eli Whitney Museum apprentices and create a dragon automaton or rolling dragon egg.

Papercutting Workshop, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm, Clement Room
Create your own traditional papercut to bring good luck to your house in the Year of the Dragon with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas High School Fellows.

Wishing Tree, 12:30 pm -3:30 pm, Rotunda
Join in this Lunar New Year tradition and hang your wishes for the New Year on New Haven’s own wishing tree.

New Haven Free Public Library:
"Year of the Dragon" Concert with  New Haven Symphony Orchestra featuring Dr. Chia-Yu Joy Lu, 12:30 pm-1:30 pm

Perfect for ages 3-7, this free family concert will feature the violin, piano, and traditional Chinese erhu. The program encourages listening, playfulness, and participation throughout the interactive performance. The concert’s music will include Two Tigers, Thunder in a Drought, Joy & Happiness, Grasshopper Tricks the Rooster, Beautiful Flowers and Full Moon, and more

Shadow Puppet Show and Workshop, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Come make a dragon puppet in celebration of the Year of the Dragon and watch a shadow puppet show! In collaboration with OompaPossum Puppets artistic director,  Kimberly Van Aelst.

Dinosaurs and Dragons with the Peabody Museum, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Did you know some of the mythology around dragons may have come from dinosaur fossils? Come learn more about dinosaurs through crafts and activities from the Yale Peabody Museum!

Eli Whitney Museum Take and Make Kits, All Branches
Get your Eli Whitney take and make kit today! Make your own moving dragon to ring in the year of the dragon.

Office of International Students & Scholars at Yale:
Location: 421 Temple Street
Community Year of the Dragon Art Project with local artist Kaitlin Tan Fung, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Participate in our community dragon sculpture to bring good luck to the Elm City!
Calligraphy with Association of Chinese Students and Scholars (ACSSY), 1:00 pm-2:30 pm
Learn more about calligraphy and create your own Lunar New Year decorations to bring good fortune to your home with ACSSY.

Location: 105 Whitney Avenue
Year of the Dragon Jam: Open Mic, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Join us for an afternoon of talented local performances as we celebrate the Year of the Dragon! Whether you just want to watch or decide to get up and perform a poem, a song, a monolog, or other, it’s sure to be a celebration! Multi-lingual art strongly encouraged!

Featuring performances by local author, poet, and activist Sun Queen and local writer, actress, and costume designer Leana Hoang.
1:15pm-1:30pm (Open Mic Sign-up)
1:30pm- 3:00pm (Open Mic)

Neighborhood Music School:
Location: 100 Audubon Street
Dragon Artist Market, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Shop from local, AAPI artists and makers at the first ever Lunar New Year Dragon Market!
This year’s artists and makers include: Alec Black; Divine Zine; BeWare Designs; Chew—Chew; yarnshaper; Creations by AC; Soumya Garg; Gawa LLC; Joyce Li’s Paintings; and Beacon Craft Studio.

Creative Arts Workshop:
Location: 80 Audubon Street
Arts & Crafts with Yale Repertory Theatre: Secret Messages, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Create your own secret messages and watch them come to life during an arts & crafts hour hosted by Yale Repertory Theatre and inspired by the upcoming production of The Far Country by Lloyd Suh.
Movable Dragon Puppets Workshop, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Create a dancing dragon puppet with the Yale-China Chinese Teaching Fellows to ring in the Year of the Dragon.

Affinity Federal Credit Union:
Location: 55 Whitney Avenue
Lunar New Year Swag Pickup, 10:30 am-12:00 pm
Get your swag to ring in the Year of the Dragon at Affinity.

Whitney-Audubon District:
Mention the Lunarfest Parade to receive the following discounts on Saturday February 24, 2024.  
Affinity Credit Union, 55 Whitney Avenue - Free giveaways during the parade
Choupette Creperie & Cafe, 24B Whitney Avenue - Free lemonade or orange juice with the purchase of a crepe
Connex Credit Union, 2 Whitney Avenue – visit our vendor table at Connex on February 24, each account opened will receive a gift bag and entry for a chance to win a $50 gift card
Cristhian Shoe Repair, 2 Whitney Avenue - 10% Off Cleaning: shoes, boots, handbags from February 24 through February 29
Good Nature Market, 44 Whitney Avenue - 10% Off
Katalina's Bakery, 74 Whitney Avenue - Special Lunarfest treats on sale on February 24
Kennedy & Perkins Opticians, 80 Whitney Avenue - 20% Off frame & RX Lenses *no other discount or insurance; 20% Off non-prescription sunglasses
MINIPNG, 77 Audubon Street - 15% Off storewide
Phil's Hair and Spa on Audubon, 71 Audubon Street - 10% Off products; 10% Off haircuts on February 24th
Pokemoto on Audubon, 99 Audubon Street - 10% Off
Walker Loden, 258 Church Street - 20% Off all jewelry
Willoughby's Coffee & Tea, 258 Church Street - Purchase any specialty coffee or tea drink and get one free (not valid on bottled drinks)

Date: February 24, 2024

Location: Various Venues in New Haven, CT 06520

Click Here For More Information