Today is February 1, 2025, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. The 2025 Lunar New Year Grand Parade, organized by the Chinese Business Promotion Association, was held grandly in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Around 10:30 in the morning, I drove to Flushing, only to find that Main Street was completely closed. With no other choice, I parked my car in a parking lot at Skyview and then walked toward Main Street. By then, the sidewalks were already packed with people, shoulder to shoulder. It seemed that 95% of them were of Chinese descent, while a portion of other ethnic groups also joined the audience, experiencing the lively atmosphere of the New Year celebration together.
The parade officially kicked off at 11:00 AM. In fact, every year during the Lunar New Year, Flushing’s Main Street hosts such a grand parade. Although New York has recognized the Lunar New Year as an official public holiday, in reality, only one day is given off. Moreover, many service industries, including the restaurant business, remain open and do not close for the holiday. As a result, it is difficult for Chinese people to relax and enjoy the New Year break as they do in China.
Additionally, the festive atmosphere in the U.S. is mostly concentrated between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, with many people using up their annual leave during that period. By the time the Lunar New Year arrives, everyone has already returned to their work routines, making the holiday feel less relaxing. This is why many new Chinese immigrants say that the New Year here lacks its traditional festive spirit.
However, this lively parade seems to bring back that nostalgic feeling of the New Year. Over the years, shops on Main Street have changed, and signboards have been replaced repeatedly. Skyscrapers have risen, and the cityscape has transformed rapidly. But one thing remains unchanged—dozens of grand parade floats every year, thousands of performers and marching groups, and tens of thousands of spectators lining the streets. On this land, they use a grand Lunar New Year celebration to showcase the enduring vitality of Asian culture.
The sound of drums echoes, colorful flags flutter, and dragon and lion dancers leap through the crowd. Children’s excited laughter can be heard from time to time. Many families, bringing along their elderly and young children, dress in festive red outfits and capture these unforgettable moments on their phones.
The parade is not just a celebration but also a cultural heritage. It gives Chinese people striving in a foreign land a sense of belonging. In New York, a city of cultural fusion, the Lunar New Year parade is not just for the Chinese but for everyone who cherishes diversity.
The spirit of the New Year is not about where you are but where your heart is. As long as the Chinese community continues to uphold traditions, and as long as people still cherish this cultural celebration, Flushing’s Lunar New Year will never lose its brilliance.
I am JJ, a photographer. Here, I wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best! Please don’t go away yet—up next, I will show all the footage from this shoot.