Gung Hay Fat Choy! The Chinese Lunar New Year took place last Sunday, on February 10. While the Main Line didn’t celebrate with sparklers and the town stayed quiet, Philadelphia’s Chinatown was a blaze of light and color for the holiday. A flower festival took place on Saturday, February 9, and a Dragon Parade took place at midnight to usher in the new year.

On Saturday, a large dragon parade began and wound its way around Philadelphia’s Chinatown from 11 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon. Drums pounded, demons watched on, and dragons snapped up exploding cabbages with glee. A fun cultural activity as well as a festive relief to the cold winter day, it was an event not to be missed. If you’re looking for free as well as fun activities next year, the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown is the way to go.