NJ Chinese New Year Events

Just a sampling:

1. (yes, this one is in NYC, the rest really are in NJ) Museum of Chinese in America, Preparing for the Lunar New Year in Chinatown Walking Tours:
   Sat, Jan 26 from 1pm – 2:30pm
   Sat, Feb 2 from 1pm – 2:30pm
   Sat, Feb 9 from 1pm – 2:30pm
   Witness how Chinatown transforms itself in preparation for the Lunar New Year. Learn about the traditions and customs observed by Chinese households and discover the significance of red envelopes, foods and decorations. Enjoy the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of Chinatown in the most festive tour of the year!
   Where: Tours begin at MOCA @ 70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor
   Fee: $12/Adult; $10 Student and Senior; $6/MOCA members; free/Children
   5 and under. Advanced reservations required. Call (212) 619-4785 or email info@mocanyc.org. Please include the number and name of guests; date of tour; and contact phone number.
   Museum of Chinese in America, 70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013
   T: 212.619.4785 x101, F: 212.619.4720, www.mocanyc.org
   
   
2. Chinese New Year Gala, Hua Xia Plainsboro Chinese School. Saturday, January 19, 2008, 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, Grover Mill Road, Plainsboro 609-468-4650
   
   Full stage production features musicians, magicians, martial artists, singers, and dancers. Yang Yi performs on the guzheng, a 21-string zither. Zhao Changiun demonstrates martial arts. Li Xin, a Beijing opera artist, portrays the Monkey King. Wennie Niu and Siu Chin perform Broadway tunes and opera. The Lion Dance opens the show. $10 to $30.
   

3. Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, and the Chinese-American Community present A Chinese New Year Community present A Chinese New Year Celebration, Saturday, February 2, 2008, 1:30 - 3:30. This drop-in program includes: Folk Dance, Folk Songs, Face Painting, ice Game, Farmers Hat, Calligraphy, Origami, Brush Holder's, Crafts and more.

4. Celebrate the Chinese New Year, “The Year of the Rat,” with a program of traditional and contemporary music and dance Feb. 8, 2009 by New Jersey-based dancer-choreographer Nai-Ni Chen including a 12 course Chinese dinner. For information call 800-650-0246
   http://www.nainichen.org/YearoftheRat/  

5. February 9, 10: New Jersey Performing Arts Center,Victoria Theater,Chinese New Year Celebration: The Year of the Rat, Newark, NJ, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
   
   
6. February 24,Cumberland County College, Frank Guaracini Jr. Fine & Performing Arts Center, Vineland, NJ, Cumberland County College.
   

7. (Event in Chinese?) The Chinese community in Livingston, New Jersey is warming up as the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches. In order to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, the Year of Dog, as well as thousands of years of culture and history, the Livingston Chinese Culture Day (LCCD) 2008 will be held on Saturday, February ?, 2008 from 4 pm to 11 pm at Livingston High School. The event is open to all who are interested. Tickets are on sale now. Please contact Xiuxian Li (973)758-1989, Rebacca Sheng (973) 535- 1452, or Jame Lee (973)535-1139 for ticket information. (OK, this confuses me, the zodiac goes dog... pig... and the cycle starts again this year with rat.)
   

Sources included:

Childbook.com's great list of events, thanks Ray! (For events in the rest of the USA & the world, go to his list of Events, Parades & Festivals, and see if I missed anything!)

Events in Chinese from Sino Monthly