Free Chinese New Year events Chicago

Free Chinese New Year events Chicago. Chicago will celebrate Chinese New Year throughout the city with a variety of special events, programs and performances. This year is The Year of the Rooster 4715.

Free Family Event at the Art Institute

January 19 – February 11, 2017, 10:30AM–5:00PM
Ryan Learning Center  More info here.
The Artist’s Studio: Chinese New Year Come celebrate the year of the Rooster with a special art activity. The Art Institute is free ALL day on all weekdays for Illinois Residents from Jan 9, 2017 to Feb 16, 2017.

This is a drop-in program and registration is not required. For more information about Family Programs, please call (312) 857-7161 or e-mail familyprograms@artic.edu. This program is designed for families with children. This program cannot accept groups.

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Chinese New Year Celebration Garfield Park Conservatory

When: Saturday, January 21, 2017 12:00pm-4:00pm
Where: 300 N. Central Park, Suggested donation $3

The Garfield Park Conservatory is celebrating the Year of the Rooster with hands-on activities, traditional Chinese dance performances, and wishes for the New Year! Join us from noon to 4pm for an afternoon of family-fun and learning.

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Chinese New Year Concert 2017

When: January 21, 2017 (3:00PM – 4:00PM)
Where: Chinatown Library Branch, 2100 S. Wentworth Avenue, (312) 747-8013. Community Room

Chinatown Branch and American Music Festivals proudly present Chinese New Year Concert 2017.

The spectacular concert is performed by award winning Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, directed by Philip Simmons, and features traditional Chinese folk and classical music, Chinese composer, Gong Qian Yang and musician Guanglong Li.

The Chinese New Year concert is dedicated to celebrate Chinese culture and heritage at this vibrant historic Chinatown community. American Music Festivals is a nonprofit committed to cultural exchange and diversity in Chicago and throughout the world.

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Free Cultural Appreciation: Cantonese Opera

When: January 21 and 28, 2017  (10:30AM – 1:00PM).
Where: Chinatown Library Branch, 2100 S. Wentworth Avenue, (312) 747-8013. Community Room

Come to enjoy traditional Cantonese Opera performed by Zhaoqiu Chines American ART Center at Chinatown. Cantonese Opera has been a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China, and has been reformed and continue to be performed today. The acting and singing techniques, as well as makeup conventions, owe much to southern China tradition.

欢迎您来华埠图书馆欣赏广东粤曲表演。 粤曲历史悠久，是大众喜爱的中国戏曲之一。表演和唱腔来源于中国南方习俗。每周星期六的粤曲表演是由兆裘中美艺术中心和华埠图书馆联合举办。

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Celebrate Chinese New Year with Ginger’s Lanterns

When: Saturday, January 28, 2017 (10:30AM – 12:00PM)
Where: Chinatown Library Branch, 2100 S. Wentworth Avenue, (312) 747-8013. Community Room

Combine art and science as you make a beautiful ball lantern out of red envelopes. Then make your own LED throwie to light it up.
Best for kids 9 and up.
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Free Chinese New Year Celebration

When: Saturday, January 28, 2017 12:00PM – 5:00PM No details available for 2017. Below were the 2016 events Check back.
Where: Shops at 900 N. Michigan

• Live Performers
• Lion Dancing
  Red envelopes with offers from shops and restaurants of 900 North Michigan Shops.
• Look for the golden coin to hit the lucky gong.
• Mario Red Bar Red lips and red nails by Mario Tricoci

If you’re looking for a meal consider Cheap mall eats N. Michigan Avenue

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Free Chinese New Year Celebration

When: Saturday January 28, 2017, All day
Where: Bloomingdales at 900 N. Michigan, Level 1

Stop at the Lunar New Year pop-up shop and take home the limited edition “Little Rooster Bag” inspired by Bloomingdale’s iconic Little Brown Bag (this may not be free).

Bloomingdale’s is partnering with the Chinese Fine Arts Society to offer authentic cultural performances and activities. Shoppers will have the opportunity to experience a traditional Lion Dance, have their name written in Chinese calligraphy, make a paper lantern, get a red manicure, and more.

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Free Chinese New Year Kick Off

Monday, January 30, 2017, 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, Preston Bradley Hall
Free. All ages fun.

The Chinese Fine Arts Society kicks off the Year of the Rooster with a festive display of traditional Chinese music, dance, including and a lion dance performance and martial arts. In addition to featuring some of Chicago’s finest artists, the Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe, founded by Jackie Chan and traveling from China, will give a special performance showcasing a new art form melding martial arts with elegant traditional Chinese dance. Don’t forget to wear red for good fortune.

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Argyle Lunar New Year Parade

When: Saturday, February 4, 2017 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm.
Where:  The parade starts at Argyle L station and will head east down Argyle, south along Sheridan Rd., west along Ainslie St., and north along Broadway to Argyle St.

Where to dine:
Ba Le French Bakery & Restaurant, 5018 N Broadway St, (773) 561-4424
Lao Sze Chuan, 4832 North Broadway, (773) 293-4653
Tank Noodle, 4953-55 North Broadway, (773) 878-2253 BYOB

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Chinese-American Museum of Chicago

When: Saturday, February 4, 2017 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Where: Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center, 238 West 23rd Street, 312-949-1000.

If you want to skip the crowds head to the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago. Admission for this event is $10 for non-members$5 children. Register online

Events include:

• Enjoy watching a lion dance and learn about it’s history.
• Hear special guest Richard Lo talk about his new children’s book, New Year.
• Participate in arts and crafts projects.
• Enjoy delicious food.

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Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade Year of the Rooster – 4715

When: Sunday, February 5, 2017 @ 12:45 pm – 3:00 pm.
Where:  Fireworks start the parade at 12:45 p.m at 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue.  The parade then heads north up Wentworth to Cermak Road.

Chicago’s Chinatown is the second largest in the US so we put on a great parade.

Other things to do in Chinatown:

• Shopping: Chinatown has great deals on inexpensive knickknacks, lanterns, tiny silk purses, grosses of chopsticks etc.  Try Chinatown Bazaar,  2221 S. Wentworth Ave., 312-225-1088. For cheap Woks ‘n’ Things try the store of the same name at 2234 S Wentworth Ave, 312-842-0701.
• Check out the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center, 238 West 23rd Street, 312-949-1000.  Suggested donation $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors.
• Chinatown Library Branch, 2100 S. Wentworth Avenue.On January 28, 2017 Celebrate Chinese New Year with Ginger’s Lanterns kids crafts Saturday (10:30AM – 12:00PM) or Cultural Appreciation: Cantonese Opera (1:00PM-4:00PM). Check out the 16,000-square-foot, two-story Chinatown Branch opened August 29, 2015 with a partially covered “living” roof, Feng shui-influenced interior design and expansive views of the city. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.  Read Blair Kamin’s review here. The branch serves as a cultural and information center for those who seek information about the Chinatown community and Chinese culture.
• Dining: If you’re thinking about dining in the area after the parade good luck.  Most good restaurants in Chinatown don’t take reservations that day or only take them for large groups so you’ll have to push your way through the crowd and try to get on the list.  At the minimum try calling ahead to get a reservation.
  • Lao Sze Chuan is one of the best restaurants in Chinatown but getting in quickly will be virtually impossible. Lao Sze Chuan, 2172 S. Archer Ave., 312-326-5040
  • You could head to the downtown outlet at the Shops at Northbridge, however it’s exponentially more expensive than the Chinatown original. Lao Sze Chuan Downtown, 520 North Michigan Ave, Suite 420, 312-595-0888
  • Another option is MingHin in Lake Shore East (LSE).  Since no one knows where LSE is it doesn’t get too crowded, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. MingHin Cuisine, 333 E. Randolph, 312-946-8885.

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Celebrate Chinese Cultural and New Year at Navy Pier