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The Empire State Building (ESB) today announced that it will celebrate Lunar New Year in partnership with China’s Consulate General in New York with a Feb. 10 lighting of its world-famous tower lights, and the unveiling of a new Spring Festival window display in its Fifth Avenue lobby that celebrates the Year of the Ox.

On Feb. 10, 2021 just before sunset at 5 p.m. EST, guests from around the world can join the virtual lighting ceremony on the Empire State Building’s YouTube page and witness the “flip of the switch” that will turn the building’s famous tower red in advance of the first new moon of the lunar calendar on Feb. 12. Anthony E. Malkin, CEO, president, and chairman of Empire State Realty Trust, will provide remarks along with Ambassador Huang Ping, the Consul General of China’s Consulate General in New York. The ceremony will be available on the Consulate General’s website, WeChat, and Instagram after the event.

The Empire State Building will also celebrate Lunar New Year with a museum-quality Fifth Avenue lobby window display entitled “Back to Order,” on view from Feb. 10, 2021, through Mar. 10, 2021. Designed by United Design Lab in collaboration with China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd, the display tells the story of the Ox as a return to normalcy in 2021 after an unprecedented year. In four scenes, the Ox welcomes spring, is represented as a symbol of peace, stands as a protector from floods to bring good weather, and ushers in a prosperous harvest. With traditional elements such as gourds, auspicious clouds, lotus flowers, pomegranates, and flying lanterns, the windows respect the importance of these historical Chinese symbols.  The Fifth Avenue lobby windows are only accessible to ESB tenants and ESB Observatory visitors.

“Lunar New Year is such a significant event for Chinese and people of Chinese descent all around the world. Families travel to celebrate together. In a world disrupted by COVID, we honor this celebration with our special and meaningful tower lighting and fantastical window display,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience. “The Empire State Building expresses its best wishes to our friends who celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Ox for a rich and fortunate new year. The Empire State Building is open and ready to welcome everyone back to New York City.”