Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival
Date: Monday, January 23, 2012
Where: from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Roosevelt Park (between Grand & Hester Streets)
The 2012 Chinatown Lunar New Year’s Day Firecracker Ceremony will be incorporating a special theme into its programs. The inaugural theme is “ Chinatown, New York City,” which serves to emphasize the vital role that Chinatown plays in the diversity, culture and economy of the city.
The firecracker detonation, with expected attendance by local politicians and community leaders, is intended to ward off evil spirits. A large stage will feature all-day cultural performances by traditional and contemporary Asian-American singers and dancers. Plus, a dozen lion, dragon and unicorn dance troupes will march through Chinatown’s main streets, including Mott Street, the Bowery, East Broadway, Bayard Street, Elizabeth Street and Pell Street.