As millions of people around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, a cultural kick off -- in the form of the Firecracker Festival -- packed the streets of Chinatown on Wednesday.

Celebrating the Year of the Snake, people attend the 27th New Year Firecracker Ceremonies during Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrations at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, New York,

New Yorkers rang in the Lunar New Year at Chinatown's annual firecracker ceremony on Wednesday (January 29). Spectators celebrated the Year of the Snake with a celebratory lion dance and the snap, crackle and pop of firecrackers.