Celebrate the Year of the Snake in 2025!
The Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
In connection with the Chinese Lunar New Year, there will be festivals, cultural events, and traditional music and food all around Atlanta. These are a handful of events that are free or affordable. Most are family-friendly.
Things to do for Chinese Lunar New Year
2025 updates are still in progress — check the dates of these events, as some details are from a previous year (they will be updated soon!)
Lunar New Year at Lawrenceville Arts Center
Saturday, January 25, 2025
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Atlanta Chinese Dance Company performs at this family-friendly event, as part of Aurora Children’s Playhouse programming.
More info
Decatur Lunar New Year Festival
Sunday, February 2, 2025
1 to 5 p.m.
$10 for people 18+
FREE for kids 17 and under
This is said to be Atlanta’s only Pan-Asian New Year celebration — meaning it embraces the diverse customs of several different Asian countries, including Vietnam, Korea, China, and the Philippines.
It features food, an international marketplace, craft booths for kids, and live performances.
The traditional Lion Dance takes place at 3 p.m.
This festival takes place outside Ebster Recreation Center, located at 404 West Trinity Place in Decatur.
The rain date is February 23rd.
More info
Lunar New Year at Chattahoochee Food Works
Saturday, January 25, 2025
6 to 10 p.m.
1235 Chattahoochee Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30318
Ring in the Year of the Snake with live entertainment, festive decor, a dragon dance, and food specials from your favorite Asian food stalls.
More info
Lunar New Year Party at the Chamblee Library
Saturday, January 18, 2025
FREE & family-friendly
There will be a presentation of the origins, legends, and celebrations of the Lunar New Year and also a time for arts and crafts.
More info
Lunar New Year Storytime at Toco Hills Library
Saturday, January 28, 2025
FREE and family-friendly
Register in advance (one registration per family).
More info and register
Lunar New Year events at Gwinnett Public Libraries
Families can learn about Lunar New traditions through stories, songs, and activities. Click thru the links for more info and to see if registration is required. These events are FREE.
2025 events include:
- Duluth branch (Jan. 21)
- Mountain Park branch (Jan. 23)
- Storytime at Five Forks Branch (Jan. 25)
- Suwanee Branch (Jan. 29)
Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival
Unfortunately, this beloved annual event is NOT happening in 2025, due to construction at the event site. This is the large, multi-day festival that typically takes place in Chamblee.
More info
Johns Creek Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 10, 2024
noon to 4 p.m.
FREE
You’ll find cultural performances, traditional food, vendors, and kids activities at this family-friendly event.
Located at Heisman Field, the green space across from the Atlanta Athletic club (1930 Bobby Jones Drive).
More info
Facebook event page
FREE lantern shows, lion dance, and more at Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station will be decked out with festive decor and tradition, from a magnificent red dragon to mesmerizing lantern shows, between Tuesday, January 21st to Monday, February 17th.
Here’s what you can expect to see at Atlantic Station:
♦ A beautifully designed, 90-foot red dragon (the traditional symbol of good fortune) will be surrounded by fog, near the Atlantic Green. The dragon sculpture features over 25,000 lights, according to a press release.
♦ Programmed lantern shows will take place at the top of each hour, from 5 to 9 p.m. each night, featuring nearly 500 lanterns in a dazzling 5-minute display. The automated light shows begin on Jan. 26th and take place on Atlantic Green. They run thru Feb. 12th.
♦ A FREE Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, February 1st, complete with Lion Dance and more. Hours are 3 to 7 p.m.
More info on all these events
Lunar New Year Festival at Stone Mountain Park
Saturdays & Sundays from Jan. 25 to Feb. 9, 2025
4 to 9 p.m.
Admission $19.99 for all ages
This Asian-inspired festival features a special Lunar New Year Drone and Light Show, a lighted parade, cultural craft activities, live entertainment, and other cultural elements.
Each evening, the festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks finale.
More info
Lion Dance at the State Capitol
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Noon to 1 p.m.
FREE
Come for a festive celebration at the Georgia State Capitol. A lion dance will usher in the year of the snake!
FREE to attend, but reserve your spot via Eventbrite.
Get a Red Envelope at Panda Express
We don’t have details for 2025 yet.
But we assume the tradition of handing out red envelopes at Panda Express will be back this year — and we’ll update as soon as we know more. The envelopes contain special coupons that you can redeem later.
Chinese New Year at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Saturday, February 2, 2025
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Regular admission price applies
The museum will offer special activities that are free with a paid admission, which ranges from $16 to $19. Children under one year of age are free. The special programming will include cultural performances.
There will be a Lion Dance at 11 a.m.
See the museum’s event page for more information
Lunar New Year celebration at Doc Chey’s Noodle House
Doc Chey’s 2025 Chinese New Year Celebration features special fortune cookie prizes.
The event happens from January 28 to 30, 2025.
Crack open your cookie to reveal your prize (while supplies last).
The offer is good for dine-in and take-out, but not for delivery orders.
Doc Chey’s is located at 1424 North Highland Ave. in Atlanta.
A trio of lucky foods is said to bring wealth, happiness, and a long life to those who eat them during the New Year celebration. (Photo courtesy of Doc Chey’s)
Lion Dance at Quang Minh Buddhist Temple
Head to the Quang Minh Buddhist Temple for their Lunar New Year celebration on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 4 p.m.
View a complete schedule of events for Lunar New Year at the Temple.
Located at:
1168 Benteen Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
More info
FREE Lion Dance performances along Buford Hwy
The Chien Hong School of Kung Fu typically performs for FREE at one or more locations along Buford Hwy.
See the schedule on the Chien Hong Facebook page.
Fun Facts about the Chinese New Year
- The holiday is more appropriately called the Lunar New Year because it is celebrated in Asian countries other than China.
- The festival date changes every year, because it’s based on the movement of the moon. Usually, it falls on a day between mid-January and mid-February.
- The lunar new year starts a new animal’s zodiac sign. The 12 animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
- Instead of wrapped gifts that western nationalities give at Christmas, children get red envelopes stuffed with lucky money.
- Lunar New Year is the largest use of fireworks in the world. The firecrackers are supposed to scare off monsters and bad luck. People stay up and set off firecrackers at midnight on the eve of the celebration. In the morning, they use firecrackers again to welcome the new year and good luck.
