The Chinese New Year technically fell on January 31 this year, but the major Boston-area events are happening a few days later.

On Sunday, February 9, Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood—the third largest in the country—celebrates the start of a new lunar year with a Lion Dance Parade. The streets will be filled with firecrackers, food, music and lion dancers, which are believed to drive away evil spirits.

Also on Sunday, the Boston Children's Museum welcomes the Year of the Horse with a day of music, dance, and crafts. Students from Yang’s Martial Arts Association of Andover and Boston will perform throughout the day. Attendees can make a noisemaker or a galloping horse puppet and join in on a dragon dance.

Later in the month on February 23, Hong Kong Restaurant sponsors a parade that will snake its way through Harvard Square. Look for the red lanterns outside of the restaurant to find the start of the parade route.

And finally, February 28 through March 2, Shen Yun Performing Arts celebrates 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through music and dance at the Wang Theatre.