D.C.'s Lunar New Year guide, other weekend events
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Chinatown will celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse this Sunday with its annual Lunar New Year Parade.
Why it matters: Fire Horse energy is intense, and D.C. will cap its parade with a firecracker show on H Street Northwest.
🧧 The parade starting at 2pm features marching bands and lion and dragon performances.
- Organizers say wearing red can "ward off evil spirits and bring in good fortune."
🗓️ Around town, the Smithsonian Asian Art Museum hosts a Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, 12-6pm.
- Expect food vendors, ceramics and jewelry from local makers, and dance performances.
🦁 D.C. restaurants are putting on events — like Karravaan's celebration on Saturday with lion dance performances and a special menu.
- Next Thursday, four Dupont Circle restaurants are doing a Lunar New Year Crawl — Alfreda, Amparo Fondita, CHĪKO, Sura. A $10 ticket gives access to exclusive menu items (for purchase) and supports the "Save Chinatown" initiative.
More things to do this weekend
🍻 Atlas Brew Works is releasing its apricot-infused IPA seasonal brew — The Precious One. It'll be available at its three taprooms, starting with a release celebration on Saturday.
🎨 Create some love letters to D.C. at a free painting event Saturday where you just need to show up — supplies provided. City-State Brewing Co. is hosting 11am-4pm.
🚴♂️ Wanna race? A one-of-its-kind biking competition takes place in Crystal City Saturday — the Garage Racing National Championships. Two parking garage levels are turned into an underground course, with races for kids, adults and an Anything Goes finale where costumes are encouraged. Registration for racers closes at 5pm Thursday, and spectators are welcome.
⛸️ Hill Family Biking is holding a bike ride + free ice skating event for 6th graders and up. Organizers are meeting at Maury Elementary's parking lot on 12th Place NE, riding 4 miles down to Canal Park. Friday 6:30pm.
🎥 The Smithsonian is holding a Mother Tongue Film Festival — showcasing 25 movies in 27 languages from 14 different regions of the world — from Thursday through Sunday.