2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Image by Deposit Photos
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon in 2024!
The Lunar New Year begins on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
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
Enjoy these 2024 festivals and cultural events around metro Atlanta.
♦ Year of the Dragon sensory-friendly event
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Behavior Frontiers Austism Center
3682 Highlands Pkwy SSE
Smyrna, GA 30082
FREE
This sensory-friendly event takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. It is perfect for families and individuals with autism. Throughout the celebration, there will be a variety of engaging activities for everyone to enjoy.
Your RSVP is requested but not required.
More info
♦ Decatur Lunar New Year Festival
Saturday, February 3, 2024
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 2:30 p.m.
This festival takes place outside Ebster Recreation Center, located at 404 West Trinity Place in Decatur.
The rain date is February 25th.
More info
Buy tickets on Eventbrite
♦ Lunar New Year at Chattahoochee Food Works
Saturday, February 10, 2024
6 to 9 p.m.
1235 Chattahoochee Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30318
Ring in the Year of the Dragon with live entertainment, festive decor, a dragon dance, and food specials from your favorite Asian food stalls.
More info
♦ FREE “take-and-make” kits at Dekalb County Libraries
Saturday, February 10, 2024
FREE
Each year, some of the library branches hand out FREE Take-and-Make kits for kids and adults. The kits include everything you need to make an Asian-themed craft or decoration. You can pick up a kit any time during normal library hours, while supplies last.
In 2024, the kits are available on Saturday, February 10th, at these participating branches (click thru for details):
* Embry Hills Branch — pick up a craft kit
* Chamblee Branch — pick up a kit for a dragon decoration
♦ Children’s story time and crafts at the Grayson Library
Saturday, February 10, 2024
3 to 4 p.m.
FREE
Families can learn about Lunar New traditions through stories, songs, and activities. PLUS, you’ll have a chance to create your own Chinese Dragon Puppet. Supplies provided.
The Grayson branch of Gwinnett Public Library is located at 700 Grayson Pkwy.
More info
♦ Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival
February 10 & 11, 2024
Center for Taipei Economic & Cultural Office
5337 New Peachtree Rd.
Chamblee, GA 30341
This is the big one!
Happening over two days in downtown Chamblee, with offsite parking and a free shuttle bus. You’ll find plenty of good food, performances, Dragon and Lion Dances, and more.
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 Friday, January 26th to Monday, February 12th, 2024.
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.
On Saturday, February 10, 2024, you can attend a spectacular Lunar New Year Festival from noon to 4 p.m.
More info
♦ Lunar New Year Festival at Stone Mountain Park
Saturday, Feb. 10 & Sunday, Feb. 11
Saturday, Feb. 17 thru Monday, Feb. 19 (President’s Day)
Saturday, Feb. 24 & Sunday, Feb. 25
4 to 9 p.m.
Admission $19.99 for all ages (online purchase; may be higher on site)
This is a new festival at Stone Mountain Park in 2023. It will feature crafts, cultural activities, storytime, puppet shows, martial arts demonstrations, dance and drumming, a parade, and more. After dark there will be a drone show, a light show, hundreds of lanterns, and a fireworks finale.
The park is billing this event as “the largest Lunar New Year spectacular in North America.”invasYour ticket includes all festival activities, plus select park attractions — so you can arrive as early as 10 a.m. and enjoy the park before the festival activities begin at 4 p.m. The Summit Skyride is included in your ticket and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Get more info and buy tickets
Remember that it costs $20 per vehicle to park at Stone Mountain!
♦ Family Series Concert at the Carlos Museum
Friday, February 9, 2024
7 to 8 p.m.
FREE
This is the Annual Pajama Concert, so come in your PJs and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa to celebrate “New Year’s Eve.”
The Vega Quartet will perform classical music, plus you’ll hear traditional Chinese music performed on the zither and bamboo flute. The concert takes place in Ackerman Hall at the Carlos Museum.
More info
Get a Red Envelope at Panda Express
We don’t have details for 2024 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 3, 2024
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.
♦ Chinese New Year celebration at Doc Chey’s Noodle House
Doc Chey’s 2024 Chinese New Year Celebration features special fortune cookie prizes.
The event happens from Wednesday, Feb. 7th to Friday, Feb. 9th in 2024.
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 11, 2024 at 7 p.m.
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. This has sometimes included:
- Asian Square (5150 Buford Hwy, Doraville)
- Orient Center (4897 Buford Hwy, Chamblee)
We don’t have 2024 info for these events yet, but we will update when we do!
You can also follow the Chien Hong Facebook page for updates.
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.
