Events

Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in the Baltimore Area

Ring in the Year of the Snake with food, art, performances, and more at these local events.

For hundreds of families around the world, Lunar New Year is a time of gathering and celebration—full of old traditions and new beginnings. Whether you’re handing out red pockets of money, wrapping bánh tét cakes, or folding pleats in dumplings, every culture and family has their own spin on the holiday. Here in Baltimore, ring in the Year of the Snake by exploring these upcoming events planned by restaurants, museums, breweries, and other community organizations.

Begins 1/24: Guinness Open Gate Brewery Midnight Harmony Release
Head to Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe to crack open a can of the brand new Midnight Harmony, an Asian-inspired Black Rice Lager infused with calamansi (Philippine lemon) puree. Brewed in collaboration with Guinness parent company Diageo’s PAN (Pan Asian Network), proceeds from sales will support a Lunar New Year-focused charity. 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe.

1/25-26: Harbor Point Lunar New Year Weekend
Throughout the weekend, Harbor Point will be abuzz with activity as the Asia in a Bite Food Fest serves up Asian-fusion dishes and specialty cocktails from more than 30 vendors. Stick around for traditional and contemporary cultural music and lion dance performances from local acts. All the while, the Harbor Point Ice Festival will return in full swing with ice sculptures and carving demonstrations on Saturday. 1310 Point St. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission 

1/26: Seeing Green Studio Lunar New Year Open House
Seeing Green Studio will be open and free to the public for a day of walk-in ceramics classes and demonstrations, karaoke, and cultural snacks. Additionally, join in decorating and creating care packages for Heart of Dinner, supporting Asian seniors in New York City. 5409 East Drive, Halethorpe. 12-5 p.m. Free. 

1/28: Ekiben x Cafe Dear Leon Lunar New Year Pop-Up
Fan-favorites Ekiben and Cafe Dear Leon are uniting this Lunar New Year for a very special collaborative pop-up. Warm up from the cold with a delicious menu of dumplings and Korean donuts while supplies last. Ekiben Hampden. 911 W. 36th St. 2 p.m.-close.

1/28: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Lunar New Year Celebration at Strathmore
This Lunar New Year, visit Strathmore for a special performance from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with Naomi Woo as conductor, Dashan 大山 (Mark Rowswell) as host and narrator, Charles Yang playing the violin, and Chao Tian playing the yangqin. The night will feature classic and contemporary pieces like Li Huanzi’s “Spring Festival Overture” and the world premiere of Viet Cuong’s “Elevators.” 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. 8 p.m. $14-35

1/29-2/1: Lunar New Year Pop-Up Menu at The Corner Pantry
Swing by the newly expanded cafe in Mt. Washington to indulge in the annual Lunar New Year menu, which will highlight all-day specials Wednesday through Saturday. Previous favorites this time of year have included black tea custard tarts, green papaya salad, congee rice porridge, and ginger-orange drinks. 6080 Falls Rd.

2/1: Peabody Heights Brewery Lunar New Year Celebration
Co-hosted by Peabody Heights Brewery and NAAAP Baltimore, this Year of the Snake celebration features cultural activities, lion dance performances, arcade games, and food from Ekiben. Make sure to hit the bar for a sip of the special snake fruit-inspired beer, too. 401 E. 30th St. 6-10 p.m. Free admission 

2/1: The Walters Art Museum Lunar New Year Celebration
The Mount Vernon art museum invites guests to partake in arts and crafts, a gallery scavenger hunt, a fun photo booth, and tours highlighting Lunar New Year-related artwork. Additionally, stick around for cultural performances like lion dancing and food tastings from the likes of NiHao, Peter Chang Baltimore, and the Peabody Heights Brewery. 600 N. Charles St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

2/1: Baltimore County Public Library Lunar New Year Festival
Bring the kids to the BCPL Cockeysville branch to learn more about the traditions and stories behind Lunar New Year. Engage in crafts, activities, and presentations about Chinese culture, and be sure to arrive early for an author visit with Grace Lin—who will read from her books about the holiday. BCPL Cockeysville Branch. 9833 Greenside Dr. Cockeysville. 1:30-4 p.m.

TO 3/30: MGM National Harbor Year of the Snake Conservatory Display
Road trip to see MGM National Harbor’s grand Lunar New Year conservatory display, featuring a 28-foot-long snake, a glittering gold money tree, hand-painted scenery, and other sculptural features. Don’t forget to check out the special Lunar New Year menu at hotel restaurant Ginger, available for a limited time, and a lion dance performance on the 26th. 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill.