Chinese New Year in Washington D.C. 2008: Year of the Rat

The Chinese New Year begins on the day of the first New Moon of the New Year and ends fifteen days later with a Full Moon. Also known as the "Spring Festival", this event can take place anywhere between late January and early February. The Chinese New Year is celebrated in Washington DC with a Chinese New Year Parade, Chinese Dragon Dances, live musical performances, and so much more.

This year, 2008, is known as The Year of the Rat. The Chinese New Year will begin on February 18, 2008.

The Chinese New Year Parade is scheduled for February 20, and should begin around 2:00 pm. The parade kicks off on H Street NW, between 6^th and 8^th streets, in China Town. Some of the featured events of the parade are the Chinese dragons, live musical entertainment, and Kung Fu demonstrations. The Chinese dragon and lion dances are featured during the festival.

Chinatown in Washington DC is a small town with much history. Approximately twenty Chinese and Asian restaurants adorn the streets, with very few other small business establishments. A traditional Chinese gate, known as the Friendship Arc is located at H and 7^th street. Chinatown is located to the east of downtown Washington DC.

The Chinese New Year festival is organized by Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. They represent thirty Chinese-American organizations in the Washington area.

There is no cost to attend the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown. People come to see the Chinese Dragons and awesome displays of color. Also, most of the restaurants in Chinatown offer special menu selections for the celebrations. Trying the food is a must as past attendees are commented as saying it is exquisite.

While visiting the Chinese New year Festival, if you have children, you may want to visit some other attractions of Washington DC as well. The National Zoo offers exhibits containing over four hundred different kinds of animals. The National Zoo is completely free and is located inside Rock Creek National Park and is also a part of the Smithsonian Institution.

The National Museum of Natural History houses a forty five and a half karat diamond known as the Hope Diamond. They have a Discovery Room which is a hands-on area for children to explore. The National Museum of Natural History also houses an eighty foot dinosaur skeleton. This is the perfect visiting place for children.

The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) houses the largest display of air and space crafts in the entire world. Through out the day they offer IMAX films and planetarium shows.

The Discover Theater is located inside the Ripley Center of the National Mall. This is a live theater with puppet shows, dancers, story tellers, etc, for children to hear classic stories and folktales.

The Washington Monument is another great feature of Washington DC. This memorial is in honor of our countries first President George Washington. From the top of the memorial you can see Washington DC from a bird's point of view.

Washington DC offers many other things to do and visit while you are enjoying the Chinese New Year celebrations. Imagination Stage, Six Flags, and The National Postal Museum are just a few more places you can visit during your visit. Enjoy you time in Washington DC this year celebrating the Chinese New Year in Chinatown.