Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration

Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 21st, 2026
10:30am - 4:00pm
Parade kick-off at 1:00pm - Argyle & Sheridan
RSVP for FREE for a chance to win prizes from Argyle businesses!

NOTE: For everyone’s safety, the Argyle Lunar New Year Parade maybe be cancelled if weather conditions are unsafe. Stay tuned to this page for any weather-related updates.

Join Uptown United and the local business, non-profit, and cultural organizations on Argyle Street in 2026 as we continue the annual tradition going back 40+ years of celebrating the Lunar New Year along the Argyle commercial corridor in Uptown! To welcome the Year of the Horse, we’ll be hosting the Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday February 21st (kick-off at 1:00pm sharp at Argyle & Sheridan) featuring 20+ local community groups, cultural institutions, dancers and performers! In addition, a number of local organizations are planning pop-ups with family-friendly activities between 10:30am-4:00pm.

RSVP for FREE for a chance to win prizes from Argyle businesses!

TOWING & ROAD CLOSURES: Stay tuned to this page for details once announced.

If you would like to support this free event, along with our other free Uptown community events throughout the year, by making a tax-deductible donation to Uptown United, please click here!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

More events and activations TBA as we draw closer to the event!

Year of the Horse STORYTIME & CRAFT at Bezazian Library
Saturday, February 21st
10:30am-11:30am - Session 1
11:30am - 12:30pm - Session 2
Bezazian Library, 1226 W Ainslie St
FREE

Celebrate the Year of the Horse with Lunar New Year-themed stories and a simple craft in advance of the Argyle Lunar New parade. For kids 3 and up. This program is being offered twice to accommodate room capacity. Please attend either the 10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. program.

Lunar New Year Market
Saturday, February 21st
11:00am - 4:-00pm
Uni Uni (1130 W. Argyle) + HAIBAYÔ (1132 W. Argyle)
FREE

Stop by these neighboring businesses on Argyle to check out a variety of vendors!

Vietnamese Association of Illinois Open House
Saturday, February 21st @ 11:00am - 3:00pm
VAI, 5110 N Broadway
FREE

Join the Vietnamese Association of Illinois (VAI) as we celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse and 50 years of VAI. Enjoy a special exhibit presented by TimeLine Theatre and the Heritage Museum of Asian Art, highlighting historical moments from past Years of the Horse. Warm up with hot drinks, take part in an all-ages community coloring project, share your favorite memories of VAI, and shop collections by Chun An Hual (jewelry) and Shuo Cai (paper-cutting).

Come celebrate the Lunar New Year with community and connection as we honor VAI’s 50 years of service in Uptown and look ahead to TimeLine Theatre’s future home across the street, officially opening in Spring 2026.

ARGYLE LUNAR NEW YEAR PARADE
Saturday, February 21st - Parade steps off at 1:00 PM
Argyle & Sheridan
FREE

To welcome the Year of the Horse, we’ll be hosting the Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday February 21st (kick-off at 1:00pm sharp at Argyle & Sheridan) featuring local community groups, cultural institutions, dancers and performers!

POST PARADE PERFORMANCES
Saturday, February 21st @ 1:45pm
Corner of Argyle & Winthrop
FREE

Join us at the intersection of Argyle & Winthrop once the parade ends for performances by local groups including CMAA Youth Lion & Lotus Dancers, CircEsteem, Kaotic Drumline, US Hobby Horse Championships, and more!

SUPPORT LOCAL ARGYLE BUSINESSES:
Stay tuned for details on how you can pick up a free Lucky Red Envelope with a complimentary Year of the Horse sticker at select businesses, PLUS….inside just a few of these envelopes will also be a Lucky Golden Ticket good for a special Year of the Horse gift from Uptown United and other prizes.

CMAA Lunar New Year 2026 – Celebrating the Year of the Horse
Saturday, February 21st @ 10:00am - 12:00pm
St. Augustine College, 1345 W. Argyle St
SOLD OUT

Join CMAA for an unforgettable FREE event to celebrate the vibrant Year of the Horse! Enjoy a complimentary lunch while experiencing exciting performances by CMAA Youth. Meet your local elected officials and connect with community members. Learn about the incredible services CMAA provides and how this organization is making an impact. Don’t miss this joyful, fun-filled celebration!

South-East Asia Center 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration Registration
Saturday, February 21st @ 11:30am
Furama Restaurant, 4936 N Broadway
Tickets - $40 (register)

Join SEAC for their annual LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION – 2026 is The Year of the Horse. Eight course banquet will be served at Furama Restaurant, 4936 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640 on February 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM. Price is $40.00 per person and includes a variety of multicultural entertainment.

2026 Chinese New Year’s FEAST at Sun Wah BBQ
Friday, February 27th - Seating starts at 6:00pm and dinner begins promptly at 6:30pm.
Saturday, February 28th - Seating starts at 6:00pm and dinner begins promptly at 6:30pm.
Sun Wah BBQ, 5039 N Broadway
Tickets - $60 - All seats for your party must be paid in advance. Call us during business hours at 773-769-1254,or stop by.
FULL DETAILS

Gung hay fat choy! Happy Lunar New Year! Sun Wah BBQ is actively preparing for our annual Chinese New Year Feast. This multi-course prix-fixe event is available for prepaid dining on Friday, February 27, 2026 or Saturday, February 28, 2026. Lock-in your spot as seats are limited. This Chinese New Year’s Feast is $60 per participant. Each night will accommodate a total of 100 seats grouped as 10 per table. Smaller groups will be coalesced to fill each table’s seating target. Entire tables may be purchased, but however you may wish to populate it (12 max), the food served will be portioned the same as the other 10-seat tables. The full menu will be posted the week of February 9, 2026 on the event page.

Asians & Friends Chicago
Saturday, March 7 @ 6:30pm
Furama Restaurant, 4936 N Broadway, 2nd Floor, West Hall
Tickets - $50/presale online until Friday, March 6, 2026, and $60 at the door (if tickets are still available). Click here to purchase.

It’s off to the races with the Year of the Horse and Asians and Friends Chicago (AFC), which proudly announces the details of the city’s only LGBTQ Lunar New Year Dinner and Performance. The social group will be hosting members of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) community and allies. Highlighting the evening will be a raffle and special performances by AFC members based on the rumbling energy of a stampede of horses. The evening will feature horse-themed décor, a highly visual and upbeat musical review and multiple courses of Cantonese and Mandarin cuisine.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS:

PRESENTING SPONSORS