Chinese New Year Parade 2012!

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/6/4/b/event_21257995.jpegWashington, DC celebrates the Chinese New Year with a Chinese New Year Parade, Chinese Dragon Dances, live musical performances, and more. The Chinese New Year is a 15-day event that starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The first day of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February.

During this important celebration in the Asian culture, it is traditional to wear red, meant to ward off evil spirits.

This year, on the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on January 23, 2012 — The Year of the Dragon. Here is a schedule of special events in the Washington, DC area:

Washington DC Chinese New Year Parade 2012

1：Each year a parade is held in Chinatown in Washington, DC to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment.

Date and Time:January 29, 2012, 2 - 5 p.m.

Giant Firecracker set off, probably at 3:45 p.m.

Location: Chinatown (http://dc.about.com/od/neigborhoodprofiles/p/Chinatown.htm)- on H Street, NW, Washington, DC between 6th and 8th Streets. The closest Metro station is Gallery Place/Chinatown

2：Celebrate at the Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival, Chinatown Community Cultural Center, 616 H Street, NW Washington, DC. Programs and activities usually include: live music and dance performances, traditional Chinese calligraphy, children’s crafts, face painting, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, lion dancing, poetry readings, film screenings, art and photo exhibits, raffle prizes, New Year souvenirs, free giveaways, and much more.

Come and Enjoy the annual lunar new year celebration!

More details here: http://dc.about.com/od/specialeventphotos1/ig/Chinese-New-Year-Parade-Pics/

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Note: This event is a festival-style event, which are harder to get everyone to meet at one spot, at the same time, in a large crowd. Members can decide how to meet up before or during the event.