Washington, 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 February 14, 2010 — The Year of the Tiger. Here is a schedule of special events in the Washington, DC area:
Chinatown- on H Street, NW, between 6th and 8th Streets. Each year a parade is held in Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment.