The Lunar New Year or Spring Festival but commonly known in the U.S. as Chinese New Year takes place on Saturday, January 25, 2020 (last for 15 days) and is the Year of the Rat! The Rat is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac. In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Those born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 are clever, resourceful, optimistic, kind, and have an energic personality. Those born in the year of the rat are said to be most compatable to the Ox, Dragon, and Monkey.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays in Asian culture and growing in popularity. It is celebrated with lucky symbolic foods, family reunions, and time spent with friends and loved ones. Celebrate the Year of the Rat in Northeast Ohio by visiting some of the events and programs listed below.
2020 Year of the Rat Lunar New Year Events in Northeast Ohio:
Photo from the Kwan Lion Dance team Facebook page.
Fri. Jan. 3, 2020, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. MIX: Fortune, Hosted by The Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio. Get an early start to Chinese New Year and celebrate the year ahead. Enjoy projected fireworks, a dancing dragon, Asian-inspired cocktails, and lots of red decor to bring good fortune to all. Discover Beijing-inspired works by contemporary Chinese artist Liu Wei and highlights from across our Asian collections. Beats by DJ jondoetho1. Ticketed Event
Sat. Jan. 18, 2020, 11-11:45 a.m. Chinese New Year Story Time, Hosted by Highland Square Library, 807 W Market St, Akron, Ohio. Celebrate the Chinese New Year with Miss Jill. We will share stories, songs, and felts plus a craft. For ages 3-6 with a caregiver.
Sun. Jan. 19, 2020, 2-3 p.m. The Year of the Rat with the Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble, Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library St, Hudson, Ohio. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Northeast Ohio’s Chinese community, the Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble will present a special program that recreates the vibrant sounds of Cantonese opera beloved by Cleveland’s first Chinese settlers. Adding special historical resonance to this performance, the ensemble, with permission from Cleveland Chinatown Development LLC, will use several century-old wind, string and percussion instruments that have been preserved in the former headquarters of the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association in Cleveland’s historic Rockwell Avenue Chinatown neighborhood.
Thurs. Jan. 23, 2020, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Lunar New Year Craft, Cleveland Public Library, Westpark Branch Main Floor, 3805 W 157th St, Cleveland, OH. Make-and-take a Lunar New Year craft project.
Thurs. Jan. 23, 2020, 5-6 p.m. Chinese New Year Celebration, Story/Craft Room, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Warrensville Heights Branch, 4415 Northfield Rd, Warrensville Heights, OH. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with arts and crafts.
Fri., Jan 24, 2020, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Lunar New Year Story & Craft, Cleveland Public Library, Brooklyn Branch Meeting Room, 3706 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH. Celebrate Lunar New Year with a dragon story and craft!
Fri., Jan. 24, 2020, at 7 p.m. Lunar New Year, Tinkham Veale University Center, Case Western Reserve University. Celebrates Lunar New Year with a fireworks display, popular Asian snacks, and giveaways for students. The event will include a traditional dance performance and then the celebration will move outside to watch the fireworks at 8 pm. All members of the CWRU campus community, alumni and the public are invited to attend this free event!
Sat. Jan. 25, 2020, 10-6 p.m. Lunar New Year Celebration at Asia Plaza, 2999 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH. See the Kwan Lion Dance at Li Wah and throughout Asia Plaza and Park to Shop starting at 11 a.m. LingYun Rising Star, Janice Liu Erhu Studio, Shojoji Japanese Dance, Tai Chi Demo by Sifu John Cosma, OCA Dragon Dance, Shaolin Kung Fu Institute, WJCU DJs A Sprinkle of Seoul and more.
Sat. Jan. 25, 2020, at 11 a.m. Chinese New Year Day (新年快乐) w/Kwan Lion Dance, Li Wah, 2999 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH. First come, first serve. Sorry, no reservation.
Sat. Jan. 25, 2020, 2-2:45 p.m. Celebrate Chinese New Year, Purple Room, Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Rd, Rocky River, Ohio. Join us for a celebration for the Year of the Rat with books, crafts. and games for the entire family.
Saturday, January 25, 2020, 3:30 p.m. Kwan Lion Dance Performance, House of Hunan Fairlawn, Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center, 2717 W Market St, Fairlawn, OH 44333. Call (330) 864-8215 for reservations.
Sat. Jan. 25, 2020, 4-5 p.m. Lunar New Year Crafts, Cleveland Public Library, Addison Branch, 6901 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH. Learn about Chinese history and culture and craft your own Lunar New Year dragon to celebrate.
Sat. Jan, 25, 2020, 5-9 p.m. Westlake Chinese Culture Association, 2020 Chinese New Year Gala, Performance Art Center and Cafeteria at Westlake High School. Dinner 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Performance 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Dinner Ticketed; Performance Free.
Saturday, Januray 25, 5:30 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Bo Loong Restaurant, 3922 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, Ohio. Call 216-391-3113 for Reservations.
Sat. Jan. 25, 2020, at 7 p.m. Chinese New Year (新年快乐) w/Kwan Lion Dance, Li Wah, 2999 Payne Ave. Cleveland, OH. Call 216-696-6556 for reservations.
Sat. Jan. 25, 2020, 7-10:30 p.m. Chinese New Year Celebration at the NBA: Cavs vs Chicago Bulls, Rocket Mortage FieldHouse, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH. Join MotivAsians at the Game by Registering HERE.
Sun. Jan. 26, 2020, at 12 p.m. Lunar New Year with the Kwan Lion Dance at Asian Town Center, E. 38th Street, Cleveland, OH. OCA Greater Cleveland Dragon Dance Team at 1:30 p.m. Free Tai Chi from 3:30-5 p.m. and more. FREE and Open to All!
Sun. Jan. 26, 2020, 2 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Imperial Dragon, 8310 Tyler Blvd, Mentor, Ohio. Call (440) 974-8838 for reservations.
Sun. Jan. 26, 4-7 p.m. Lunar New Year, DeBartolo Stadium Club, 577 5th Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio. Organized by International Student Organization to celebrate the Lunar New Year and introduce YSU community with the asian cultures. Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar, also called Spring Festival, festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. Get Tickets Here
Sun. Jan. 26, 2020, 4:30 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Golden Dragon Restaurant, 5871 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, Ohio. Call (440) 449-8710 for reservations.
Sun. Jan. 26, 2020, 5:30 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Hunan by the Falls, 508 Washington St, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. For reservations, call 440-247-0808.
Mon. Jan. 27 at 7-9 p.m. Rosh Chodesh & Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by JHUB, Szechuan Gourmet, 1735 E 36th St, Cleveland, Ohio. Join jHUB women for a celebration of Rosh Chodesh & the Lunar New Year! A women’s night out at Szechuan Gourmet! We will have a delicious Chinese dinner in celebration of both Rosh Chodesh and the Lunar New Year. We will also learn a bit about the Jewish communities of China. Join us for good food and great company! Ticketed Event
Wed., Jan. 29, 2020, 12:30 p.m. Kwan Lion Dance at Margaret Wong & Associates.
CANCELED Fri. Jan. 31, 2020, 5:30-9 p.m. 2020 Chinese New Year Annual Event, Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio. Drinks, Hors D’Oeuvres, and Free Parking will be provided. We will also feature VIP tour with the curator, Artwork auctions, Special Raffle, and lots of fun activities! Ticketed Event. Greater Cleveland Chinese Chamber of Commerce Members Free. RSVP by January 27, 3PM
Fri. Jan. 31, 2020, 7 p.m. Lunar New Year Celebration with the Kwan Family Lion Dance performance at Pad Thai, 5657 Darrow Road, Hudson, Ohio. Call 330-650-9998 for Dinner Reservations.
Sat. Feb. 1, 2020, at 11 a.m. Chinese New Year Day (新年快乐) w/Kwan Lion Dance at Li Wah, 2999 Payne Ave. Cleveland, OH. First come, first serve. Sorry, no reservation.
Sat. Feb. 1, 2020, 2-3 p.m.
Celebrate the Chinese New Year, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brecksville Branch Meeting Room, 9089 Brecksville Rd, Brecksville, OH. Eighth grade students from Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School will celebrate the Year of the Rat with a story, craft and other fun activities in this introduction to Chinese culture.
Sat. Feb. 1, 2020, at 7 p.m. Chinese New Year (新年快乐) w/Kwan Lion Dance at Li Wah, 2999 Payne Ave. Cleveland, OH. Reservations required, call 216-696-6556.
Sun. Feb. 2, 2020, at 5 p.m. Year of the Rat Celebration with the Kwan Family Lion Dance, Hunan Solon, 6050 Enterprise Pkwy, Solon, Ohio. Call (440) 248-8836 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 2, 2020, at 6 p.m. Kwan Lion Dance at Lobster & Pho, 6901 Rockside Rd, Independence, Ohio. Call (216) 525-0028 for reservations.
Tues. Feb. 4, 5:30-8:30 p.m. APAMSA Lunar New Year at NEOMED, 4211 Ohio 44, Rootstown, Ohio. Faculty, staff, students and the community are invited to join the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association and the Anhui Learners. We will celebrate the year of the Rat on the Chinese Calendar with dancing, entertainment, food and games. Get Tickets Here
Fri. Feb. 7, 2020, at 7 p.m. Lunar New Year Celebration with the Kwan Family Lion Dance performance at Pad Thai, 3545 Brookwall Dr, Fairlawn, Ohio. Call 330-668-9981 for Dinner Reservations.
Sat. Feb. 8, 2020, 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2020 新年慶祝會 New Year Celebration, Shaker Middle School Gym and Cafeteria, 20600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights, Ohio. Games, Student Performances, and Night Market style lunch. Ticketed Event
Sat. Feb. 8, 2020, at 12 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Bo Loong Restaurant, 3922 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, Ohio. Call 216-391-3113 for Reservations.
Sat. Feb. 8, 2020, 4:30 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Golden Dragon Restaurant, 5871 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, Ohio. Call (440) 449-8710 for reservations.
Sat. Feb. 8, 2020, 5:30 p.m. Year of the Rat Celebration with the Kwan Family Lion Dance, Hunan Solon, 6050 Enterprise Pkwy, Solon, Ohio. Call (440) 248-8836 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 9, 2020, at 12 p.m. Celebrate Chinese New Year with a special Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Dragon Gate Restaurant, 6681 W 130th St, Parma Heights, Ohio. Call (440) 743-0800 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 9, 2020, at 2 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Imperial Dragon, 8310 Tyler Blvd, Mentor, Ohio. Call (440) 974-8838 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 9, 2020, at 6 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Imperial Dragon, 8310 Tyler Blvd, Mentor, Ohio. Call (440) 974-8838 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 16, 2020, at 2 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Imperial Dragon, 8310 Tyler Blvd, Mentor, Ohio. Call (440) 974-8838 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 16, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Golden Dragon Restaurant, 5871 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, Ohio. Call (440) 449-8710 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 16, 2020, at 6 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, Imperial Dragon, 8310 Tyler Blvd, Mentor, Ohio. Call (440) 974-8838 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 23, 2020, at 12 p.m. Kwan Family Lion Dance Performance, China Jade Restaurant, 2190 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, Ohio. Call (216) 749-4720 for reservations.
Sun. Feb. 23, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. Chinese New Year (新年快乐) w/Kwan Lion Dance at King Wah, 20668 Center Ridge Rd, Rocky River, OH.
Photo by the Kwan Lion Dance Facebook page.
* Subject to change
** Updated as new events come in
