Today marks the arrival of the Chinese Year of the Horse, and there are a number of celebrations happening in Philadelphia this weekend to commemorate the turning of the Chinese calendar. Thursday night was the official Chinese New Year’s Eve celebration in Chinatown, with a lion dance parade, fireworks and festivities… but the celebration continues all weekend!

Many restaurants in Chinatown are offering special banquets and dinners throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, celebrate the Lunar New Year close to home, at our Penn’s Landing neighbor, the Independence Seaport Museum from 11am-3pm, with Chinese cultural events, as well as Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures celebrated through dance performances and crafts. Activities are included in museum admission.

Then on Sunday, the Philadelphia’s Sun’s Lion Dance Parade takes over Chinatown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parade begins at 10th and Spring Streets and continues from there, with martial arts demonstrations throughout the day, as well as firecrackers, the Philadelphia Suns’ lion dance and much more. For more info on the parade or other Chinese New Year activities in and around Philadelphia, visit www.chinatown-pcdc.org.

“Gong Xi Fa Cai” – a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year to all!