Year of the Rabbit | A Guide to Lunar New Year in Chicago
Usher in the Year of the Rabbit with Lunar New Year celebrations of all kinds in Chicago. Get ready to delight in vibrant parades, cultural celebrations, and dining specials. The centuries-old tradition of Lunar New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually sometime between January 21 and February 20, resulting in two full weeks of festivities. From annual parades to afternoon tea, read on to learn how to celebrate Lunar New Year in Chicago.
Year of the Rabbit Fun Facts
If you were born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, or 2011 you were born during the Year of the Rabbit.
Famous people born during Rabbit years include Albert Einstein, Frank Sinatra, Benedict XVI, Michael Jordan, George Orwell, Angelina Jolie, Novak Djokovic and Brad Pitt.
Those born under the Rabbit are gentle, quiet, elegant, and alert as well as quick, skillful, kind, patient, and very responsible, sometimes reluctant to reveal their minds to others and having a tendency to escape reality, but always faithful to those around them.
Parades and Events
Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, January 28, 2023 - Argyle Street
The Uptown neighborhood will welcome the Lunar New Year with their annual parade, featuring community groups, cultural institutions, dancers, and performers. Due to CTA construction, The parade is being rerouted this year and will kick-off at Argyle & Winthrop, head west on Argyle, north on Broadway, east on Winona, and south on Sheridan back to Argyle.
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
Sunday, January 29, 2023 - Chinatown
Welcome the Year of the Tiger with traditional lion dances, cultural performances, and more during this colorful celebration.
Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration at the Field Museum
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Join artists from The Chinese Fine Arts Society in the Crown Family PlayLab as they lead children through interactive Ruan and Hide music and movement performances.
Global Connections: Lunar New Year
Saturday, January 28, 2023 - Navy Pier
Enjoy local performances, artists, dance, traditional and contemporary music, food vendors and much more!
Lantern Festival Celebration
Sunday February 5, 2023 - Chicago Cultural Center
Experience the Chicago Cultural Center transformed into a festive Chinese marketplace. Enjoy music, food, calligraphy, puppets, lion dance, and more!
Chinese New Year Dumpling Making Dinner
Saturday, January 28 - Hing Kee Restaurant, 2nd Floor
Celebrate Lunar New Year with dumpling-making, lion dancing, and family-style story telling!
Chinatown Food & Culture Walking Tour
Sunday, January 22 - Sunday, February 5, 2023 - Phoenix Restaurant
Tour Chinatown and learn about the history of Chinese immigration to Chicago while tasting delicious cuisine from five Chinese regions.
Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea
Friday, January 20th through Sunday, January 22nd, 2023 - The Peninsula Chicago
Enjoy a distinctive tea menu including traditional Chinese fare, a traditional lion dance, lion troupe, and music!
Order Take Out
Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings
Chinatown, Chicago
QXY specializes in soup dumplings filled with everything from pork and lamb to premium ingredients like lobster and sea urchin.
Lao Peng You
West Town, Chicago
This West Town outpost serves exceptional dumplings and noodles available two ways — cold or in soups.
MCCB
Chinatown, Chicago
Modern Chinese Cook Book offers a contemporary approach to Sichuan cuisine.
Little Lan’s
Winnetka, Illinois
This eatery serves Mandarin & Sichuan dishes, from pan-fried dumplings to garlic beef.
Chinese Palace
Barrington, Illinois
Order take-out from one of Barrington’s best.
Chiu Quon Bakery & Dim Sum
Chinatown, Chicago
Chicago’s oldest traditional Chinese bakery is home to a world of sweet and savory delights, like their famous BBQ pork buns.
Sun Wah BBQ
Uptown, Chicago
Try the Peking duck feast at this beloved Uptown eatery.
Minghin Cuisine
Chinatown, Chicago
One of Chicagoland’s most well-known Chinese restaurants, this must-have now has six locations.
Lao Sze Chuan
Evanston, Illinois
Often rated amount the best in Chicagoland, Lao Sze Chuan serves up authentic Sichuan cuisine.
Jade Dragon
Hinsdale, Illinois
Take your pick from their selection of Szechwan, Mandarin and Cantonese cuisine.