Dragon, lion and snake dancers took to the streets of Chinatown Sunday to celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Snake.

“Happy New Year. Welcome to Boston. Welcome to Chinatown,” Mayor Michelle Wu said to the crowd gathered in Phillips Square in Chinatown. “The snow came at the perfect time, and so I’m really grateful to all of our city workers who worked all night so that the streets could be cleared so we could all be here to support our businesses and clap and cheer for all of the lion and dragon dance troupes. And to make sure that we’re ringing in the new year all together. I just want to wish everyone a happy, prosperous year.”

The annual Lunar New Year Lion Dance Parade, led each year by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA), kicked off at 11 a.m. Sunday morning with live performances, pounding drums and crowds of revelers braving the cold.

The Lunar New Year took place on Jan. 29, heralding the Year of the Snake. Boston’s lion dance parade occurs of the second Sunday in February to mark the new year, the CCBA said, and “chase away evil spirits and misfortune and welcome prosperity and good luck.”

A dusting of snow just barely drifted over the colorful costumed dancers and musicians moving through the Chinatown streets through 3 p.m. Sunday. The celebration kicked off with speeches from city councilors and neighborhood leaders, followed by the lion, dragon and snake dances.

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Along with the parade, a Culture Village in Chinatown showcased the origin story behind the Chinese zodiac, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese arts and crafts, and more.

“It’s an amazing event every year,” said Kym Jett, looking over golden snake puppet dancing in the air with her young daughter. “The neighborhood has so much culture and community, and it’s great to come out and see all of this.”

A lion with the Wong Association dances near the Chinatown Gate during the Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
The big head Buddha performs with a lion during the Lunar New Year celebration, Sunday. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
The Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Dragon Dance Team performs with a snake during the Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Grant Gao, 7, watches the lion dances during the Lunar New Year celebration (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Firecrackers go off as lions dance during the Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown, Sunday. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)