The Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) was founded in 1984 as a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the education and promotion of the Chinese cultural arts.

Join the Chinese Fine Arts Society in celebrating Chinese New Year with fun, FREE, family-friendly activities at iconic Chicago locations. The Year of the Rat is a year of wealth, prosperity, abundance, and renewal, and is the start of a new zodiac cycle. 

Citywide Chinese New Year Kickoff 
Friday, January 24th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

Celebrate the beginning of Chinese New Year with the Chinese Fine Arts Society at the Citywide Chinese New Year Kickoff! Enjoy a multi-arts lunch hour performance featuring lion dance, martial arts, music, dance, and direct from China, special guest artists the Zhejiang Shaoju Opera Theater. Presented in partnership with Choose Chicago. 

Global Connections Chinese New Year Celebration
Saturday, January 25th, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Navy Pier, AON Grand Ballroom
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Immerse yourself in Chinese New Year festivities as Navy Pier’s Aon Grand ballroom is transformed into a festive Chinese marketplace. Experience performances of dance, music, martial arts, drumming, and more featuring the best of Chicagoland’s artists keeping traditional Chinese arts alive. Then browse vendors, enjoy fun, festive, and interactive arts and crafts, traditional food, and more!  Presented in partnership with Navy Pier and Choose Chicago.

Today at Apple: Chinese New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 1, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Apple Michigan Avenue
401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Apple Michigan Avenue while enjoying interactive multi-arts performances of Chinese dance, martial arts, calligraphy, and music. Get hands-on experience using the enhanced slo-mo and time-lapse video features of iPhone filming the performances and learn tips from Apple’s own Today at Apple team. Presented in partnership with Apple Michigan Avenue and Choose Chicago.

Lunar New Year Celebration and Lantern Procession
Saturday, February 8th, 1:00 – 7:30pm
Art Institute of Chicago; Maggie Daley Park
111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603; 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1:00 – 4:30pm with art-making, music, games, an artist demonstration, and a puppet performance about the animals of the zodiac, as well as gallery talks in the Asian art galleries. Then, head across the street at 5:30pm to light up the night with a lion-dance led lantern procession from Millennium Park to Maggie Daley Park, followed by more New Year’s activities, including a lion dance finale, arts and crafts, and ice skating.  Presented in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Parks District and Choose Chicago. 

If you are interested in bringing a large group or club to join the lantern procession, or interested in volunteering, please contact Elizabeth Clawson at [email protected].

Lantern Procession Line-up Location

Congratulations to all  participants in the 34th Music Festival in Honor of Confucius finalists, and thank you to all who participated!

A list of finalists can be found here. 

The live finalists round will be held on Sunday, November 24th from 8am – 3:00pm in the Studebaker Theater and the William Harris Lee and Co. Store. Finalists will be contacted individually with more information regarding their final audition time. Congratulatory messages for the Winners’ Concert and Awards Ceremony program book are available here.

Regardless of your advancement, we hope you will join us on Sunday, November 24th to support your peers as they compete in the live final round, and for a day filled with fun and festive educational activities including a performance and masterclass with the Crossing Borders Music String Trio, tours of the William Harris Lee and Co. instrument workshop, demonstrations of traditional Chinese instruments and dance, calligraphy, a mini Chinese marketplace, and a Confucius photobooth! The day will culminate in the 34th MFHC Winners’ Recital and Awards Ceremony which begins at 4:30pm in the Studebaker Theater. All are invited to attend, and all events are free and open to the public. More information can be found here.