Lunar New Year events: Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse on Long Island

The Year of the Fire Horse, representing freedom, strength and perseverance, will kick off on Lunar New Year this  Feb. 17. For those who follow the lunisolar calendar, the event is marked by celebrations including banquet feasts, craft workshops, lion dance performances and art displays.

"The year of the horse is notable because it signifies a positive symbol of forward motion with energy and passion," says Tom Joy, vice president of the Suffolk County Police Asian Jade Society. The organization is hosting a festive banquet to celebrate the occasion in March.

In Nassau, Long Islanders can celebrate the New Year at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Brookville with a Lunar New Year Festival on Feb. 14.

"This is not a small-scale event," says Syed Own Murtajiz Naqvi, executive director of Asian American Affairs for Nassau County. "The celebration features more than 30 exhibitors filling the Tilles Center and highlighting local Asian organizations along with art and school performance."

Here are more ways to ring in the holiday with friends and family:

Feb. 7: Attend a cultural celebration

Port Washington Library, 1 Library Dr., Port Washington 

Enjoy musical and cultural performances along with a traditional lion dance at the Port Washington Library's Lapham Meeting Room and around the library building.

• WHEN 1 to 4 p.m. 
• COST Free
• MORE INFO pwpl.org, 516-883-4400

Feb. 12: Check out an art exhibit 

Syosset High School, 70 S. Woods Rd.

See an art exhibit highlighting works by students from Syosset schools (grades K-12). Festivities continue at 7 p.m. on the main stage with music and dance performances.

• WHEN 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• COST Free
• MORE INFO 516-364-5675

Feb. 14: Go to a Lunar New Year Festival

Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville

The event features cultural exhibits including a dragon boat jewelry demonstration, lion and dragon dances, calligraphy on display and sugar painting. There will be dance performances showcasing Asian culture by local students from Yes I Can Performing Arts Center, Yixin Dance Center and Kirin Arts Center starting at 3 p.m. 

• WHEN Noon to 5:30 p.m.                                 
• COST Free; advanced reservation required
• MORE INFO nassaucountyny.gov, 516-572-2244

Feb. 14: Watch a puppet show 

Long Island Children's Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Uniondale

Chinese Theatre Works presents "Hao Bang Ah! Horse," a glove puppet production featuring the animals of the Chinese zodiac, along with skits, dances and popular songs.

• WHEN 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.. Puppet demonstrations before and after performances.
• COST $5 with museum admission: $18 ages 1 and older; $10 theater-only
• MORE INFO licm.org, 516-224-5800

Feb. 14 and 22: Create a lantern 

Long Island Children's Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Uniondale

Decorate a paper lantern to take home during a drop-in activity.

• WHEN Noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 14 and 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 22; suitable for ages 3 and up.
• COST Free with museum admission: $18 ages 1 and older
• MORE INFO licm.org, 516-224-5800

Feb. 15: Learn about New Year traditions 

Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington

Welcome the Year of the Horse by making art while learning about Chinese and Korean Lunar New Year traditions.

• WHEN Noon to 4 p.m.
• COST Free; registration is required for timed entry 
• MORE INFO heckscher.org, 631-380-3230 

Feb. 17: Join a story time

Syosset Public Library, 225 South Oyster Bay Rd.

Author Maria Wen Adcock reads from her book, “It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George” and conducts a Year of the Horse interactive craft session.

• WHEN 11 a.m. to noon; registration required; recommended for grades K-5.
• COST Free
• MORE INFO syosset.librarycalendar.com, 516-921-7161

Feb. 17: Design a dragon craft

The Whaling Museum and Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor

Learn how sea creatures were the inspiration for dragon legends from around the world. Design and create a movable dragon craft.

• WHEN 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
• COST $12 plus museum admission: $8; $6 ages 4-17
• MORE INFO cshwhalingmuseum.org, 631-367-3418

Feb. 17 and 21: Hear a story and make a craft 

The Bryant Library, 2 Paper Mill Rd., Roslyn

A New Year celebration kicks off with a reading from the children's book, "This Next New Year," by Janet S. Wong for grades 1-5. Kids can make a fire horse paper bag puppet. For more hands-on fun, those celebrating the holiday can paint an umbrella, 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21. The Year of the Fire Horse will also be highlighted during an art display through Feb. 27. 

• MORE INFO Book reading: 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Feb. 17 and umbrella painting craft: 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21; advanced registration required 
• COST Free
• MORE INFO bryantlibrary.org, 516-621-2240, ext. 230

Feb. 21: Make good luck decorations

Vanderbilt Mansion, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport

Make a paper lantern and a good luck decoration to celebrate the Year of the Horse. You can also learn how to write Chinese calligraphy.

• WHEN 10 a.m. to noon; registration required
• COST $20; $15 ages 5-11
• MORE INFO vanderbiltmuseum.org, 631-854-5579

Feb. 21: Learn about Lunar New Year

Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington

Explore Korean and Chinese traditions with art and interactive workshops that focus on stories, symbols and the cultural significance of Lunar New Year.

• WHEN Noon to 1 p.m., 1 to 2 p.m., 2 to 3 p.m. , 3 to 4 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m.; registration required
• COST Free
• MORE INFO heckscher.org, 631-380-3230

Feb. 22: See dance performances 

North Court near Primark, 630 Old Country Rd., Uniondale

The Year of the Horse celebration at Roosevelt Field mall is partnered with West Hempstead-based Chinese Center on Long Island and features a lion dance, ribbon dance and other traditional Chinese dance performances.

• WHEN 2 to 4 p.m.
• COST Free
• MORE INFO simon.com

Feb. 22: Watch a magic show 

Charles B. Wang Center, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Rd., Stony Brook

Magic Q, a magician and humorist, performs "Galloping Wonder," a Lunar New Year celebration featuring illusions and card tricks.

• WHEN 2 p.m.
• COST $20, $15 ages 6-12
• MORE INFO thewangcenter.org, 631-632-4400.

Feb. 28: See performances 

Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills

Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a dinner featuring traditional Chinese cuisine and music by local performers hosted by Greater Roslyn Association for Chinese Enrichment. 

• WHEN 5 to 9:30 p.m.
• COST $25, $20  ages 11 and younger
• MORE INFO Online for tickets at roslyngrace.org.

March 5: Enjoy a meal at a banquet 

Hamlet Golf and Country Club, 1 Clubhouse Dr., Commack

The Lunar New Year banquet includes a cocktail hour with sushi and a main-course buffet with more than 40 dishes by T.O.A. Asian Fusion and #YAAAS Tea.  There will be a lion dance, cigar bar, raffle and photo booth.  

• WHEN 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
• COST $150 per person, advanced registration required 
• MORE INFO asianjade.org, 914-473-0206.