Lunar New Year is a cultural celebration that marks the beginning of a calendar year based on the cycles of the moon. While the observance is most popular among Asian cultures, there are many local Lunar New Year Events to celebrate and mark the occasion.
Lunar New Year will be begin on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 and ends on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Tết and Chinese New Year will celebrate the Year of the Horse.
Lunar New Year Events In Orange County
2026 Lunar New Year Events will be posted as the date nears.
Anaheim
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park
January 23 through February 22, 2026
1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Disney’s California Adventure with food, festivals, and character experiences. Highlights include Mulan’s Lunar New Year Processions, live entertainment, sip and savor passes for culinary experiences, festive decorations, commemorative merchandise, and crafts and activities for the kids. Don’t forget to visit the Lunar New Year Wishing Wall with ornamental lanterns and add a special message for the upcoming year.
Costa Mesa
OC Lantern Festival
Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 11 AM
Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
A free family festival commemorating the end of the Lunar New Year Celebration with music, dance, art, food, and fun. Cap off the event with expressing good wishes for the upcoming year and lighting lanterns.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse with music, dancing, and fusions of musical traditions from East and West, conducted by Music Director Carl St. Clair plus additional guests and performers.
South Coast Plaza
February 12 – March 1, 2026
3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
See Lunar New Year displays including photo exhibits, shop limited collections from a plethora of shops, and collect highly coveted special red envelopes that many designer boutiques offer with purchase. Don’t miss a visit to Jewel Court to view the display, take photos, and make a new year wish.
Fountain Valley
Lunar New Year Festival
Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 10AM – 1PM
Fountain Valley Recreation Center
16400 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley
Come out for Lunar New Year Celebration Festivities including games, crafts, and historical and cultural activities.
Garden Grove
SteelCraft Lunar New Year Festival
Feb. 28, 2026| 12 PM – 10 PM
SteelCraft Garden Grove | 12900 S Euclid Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840
SteelCraft Garden Grove hosts the a Lunar New Year celebration complete with lion dancers, drummers, singers, firecrackers, and more. There will also be a pop-up market during the day. Live entertainment is scheduled throughout the day.
Tet Lunar New Years Eve Celebration
To Be Announced
Advance Beauty College
10121 Westminster Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92843
This event includes traditional cultural performances, a fashion runway show, red envelopes with lucky money, traditional treats, and community booths.
Flower Street on Historic Main
February 13-15, 2026
Historic Main Street Garden Grove
Garden Grove’s historic Main Street will be transformed with elaborate installations, displays, and artwork. Enjoy lion dances, live musical performances, flower fashion show, games, contests, vendors, and more at this free event.
VietRISE HQ Tet Celebration
Feb 17, 2026 | 6PM – 9PM
14351 Euclid St, Ste 1W, Garden Grove
Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse with art, a vendor fair, and performances!
Huntington Beach
UVSA Tết Festival
Friday, February 13 – Sunday, February 15, 2026
Golden West College
15744 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA 92647
The Tết Festival is a Vietnamese cultural celebration observing the Lunar New Year. This three day event includes a variety of multicultural activities, a special replica of a traditional village in Viet Nam with exhibits, galleries, and architectural models, opening ceremonies with Raising of the Bamboo, an Ancestral Altar Procession, music, food, and much more.
Irvine
Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
February 7, 2026 | 11AM – 4:30PM
The Great Park: 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
Celebrate the start of the Luna New Year, with a parade and festival featuring lion dances, fun zones, community booths, and more.
Lunar New Year at the Barnyard
Feb 7 & 8, 2026 | 10:30AM – 11:30 AM
Tanaka Farms 5380 3/4 University Drive, Irvine
Celebrate the Year of the Horse, make a craft, and meet their horse, Pinto Bean.
UCI Lunar New Year
Monday, February 9, 2026 | 9AM – 6PM
Festival: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
UCI Student Center, Barclay Plaza & Theatre
The multicultural celebration of Lunar New Year at UCI includes a number of activities including traditions like red envelopes, dragon and lion dances, musical performances, an a nighttime light show. A street festival kicks off at 3:30 PM, but celebrations take place throughout the day.
Pretend City Lunar New Year
Sunday, February 15, 2026
29 Hubble Drive, Irvine, CA 92618
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the kids at Pretend City with lantern making, calligraphy, pretend dumpling making, music and movement performances, lion dancing, traveling exhibits, and more. This is a great event to expose little ones to this multicultural celebration.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Feb. 15, 2026
Diamond Jamboree | 2700 – 2750 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606
Celebrate the Year Of The Horse with performances, crafts, and giveaways for a happy and prosperous New Year.
Lunar New Year Celebration
March 1, 2026 | 12 PM – 4 PM
Irvine Spectrum Center
670 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618
Shop for Lunar New Year gifts throughout Irvine Spectrum Center, then celebrate with a Traditional Lion Dance, martial arts demonstrations, instrumental performances, and more.
Woodbury Night Market: Lunar New Year Edition
Feb 22, 2026 | 4 PM – 7 PM
6200 Irvine Blvd., Irvine, CA 92620
Located near LA Fitness in the Courtyard
This event includes a memorable Lunar New Year celebration with mouthwatering food, live DJ, lion dance, acrobatics, snake handler presentation, and more!
Newport Beach
Fashion Island Displays & Promotions
February 28, 2026 | 12 PM – 3 PM
Discover a variety of Lunar New Year activities and demonstrations throughout the center, along with insta-worthy photo moments.
Also, celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Art Installation, located near Nordstrom, with a live calligraphy demonstration by the Irvine Chinese School, crafts, and a special lion dance performance.
San Clemente
Family Sundays Lunar New Year Event
Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM
Casa Romantica Cultural Center
415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672
This free family event celebrates the Lunar New Year. Enjoy Lion Dance performances, lucky envelopes with fortunes, and many other family friendly activities.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana Tết Festival
Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 1PM – 6PM
Centennial Park | 3000 W Edinger Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92704
This Lunar New Year celebration is hosted by Santa Ana Parks & Rec and The Santa Ana Public Library. Bring your family and friends to celebrate with live entertainment and dancing, educational and cultural information and exhibits, shopping from vendors, resource booths, bounce houses, and a grand fireworks display.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Feb 28, 2026 | 12-3PM
MainPlace Mall
2800 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with cultural activities and performances that will both educate and entertain guests. This free, family-friendly event that is open to the public.
Silverado
Celebrate Cultures In Nature: Chinese Lunar New Year
To Be Announced | 9AM – 12PM
Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve Augustine Staging Area
An outdoor celebration of cultures dedicated to learning more about the Chinese Lunar New Year. Explore characteristics of people born in the Year of the Horse all while visiting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks on an easy trail adventure.
Tustin
The District Lunar New Year Celebration
February 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Come out to see Lion Dance performances, Martial Arts, Chinese fan dancers (youth division), stilt walkers, crafts, and live DJ. The first 500 guests will receive a Lucky Red Envelope with a crisp $2 bill and special savings from select tenants. Stop by the Photo Pagoda to commemorate the New Year! Photo Pagoda will be open daily.
The Market Place Lunar New Year Celebration
February 21, 2026 | 12PM – 3PM
Tustin Market Place in the Courtyard Near Regal Edwards
2961 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782
Head to the Market Place to celebrate with family activities and special promotions throughout the center. Entertainment includes traditional dragon and lion dances with live music, drummers, lion and dragon dances and more.
Villa Park
Lunar New Year Celebration
To Be Announced | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Villa Park Town Center
Enjoy a free festive event with a photo booth with fun props, red envelopes with surprises and student performances.
Westminster
Cho Hoa Flower Festival – Phuoc Loc Tho
January 29 – February 15, 2026
Flower Festival: 10am to 10pm
Night Food Vendors: 6 pm to 10 pm (Thursday-Sunday)
Firecracker Celebration: February 17, 2026 @ 12:00 pm
Asian Garden Mall | 9200 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683
The Asian Garden Mall hosts the annual Flower Festival where you can shop for fresh mai flowers, cherry blossoms, orchids, plants, and traditional Tết (Lunar New Year) décor. Traditional arts and crafts will also be available as well as entertainment from local musicians and food vendors will serve traditional food nightly. A firecracker celebration, where thousands of firecrackers are lit, takes place on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Little Saigon Tet Parade
Saturday, February 21, 2026 Parade begins at 9:30 AM | Opening Ceremony at 8:30 AM
Bolsa Avenue from Magnolia Street to Bushard Street – Westminster
The annual Little Saigon Tet Parade is held in the city of Westminster. Celebrating and honoring local Vietnamese culture, the event includes activities, displays, and entertainment.
Yorba Linda
Lunar New Year 2026 at the Nixon Library
Monday, February 9, 2026
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with an evening filled with Chinese food, a cultural fair and performances.
LA & SD Area Lunar New Year Events
Desert Hills Premium Outlets Lunar New Year Celebration | Feb 28, 2026 | 48400 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230
Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival (Golden Dragon Parade) | Feb 21, 2026 | Starts at 12PM; Parade at 1 PM | 943 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival | Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 3PM – 7PM | 301 S. Avalon Blvd., Wilmington, CA
Lunar New Year Festival – Monterey Park | January 31 – February 1, 2026 | Downtown Monterey Park at Garvey Avenue (between Garfield Ave & Alhambra Ave, Monterey Park)
Lunar New Year at Santa Monica Place | Feb 21, 2026 | 2PM – 5PM | 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Asian American Expo | January 17-18, 2026 | Fairplex Pomona – 2705 Fairplex Drive, Pomona, CA 91768
San Diego Lunar New Year Festival in City Heights | February 13-15, 2026 | 3795 Fairmount Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
Annual San Diego Chinese New Year Fair | February 28 & March 1, 2026 | Downtown San Diego at 3rd Avenue & G Street
Huntington Library Chinese New Year Festival | February 21-22, 2026 | The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
Chinese New Year vs Tet New Year
In China, the lunar new year is known as Chinese New Year or, Guo Nian. Lunar New Year begins on the first new moon of the year, and ends 15 to 16 days later on the first full moon. Common traditions that take place during the celebration of the Lunar New Year include distributing small red envelopes with small amounts of money, lantern festivals, lion dances, fireworks, cleaning of homes to remove bad luck, and religious ceremonies.
In Vietnam, the Lunar New Year is known as Tết (Tết Nguyên Đán). Tết is the same day as the Chinese New Year except with the one-hour time difference between Vietnam and China results in the new moon occurring on different days.
Traditionally, each year also celebrates an animal of the ancient zodiac. In China, 2022 was the Year of the Tiger, 2023 was the Year of the Rabbit, and 2024 is Year of the Dragon. China and Vietnam share 10 of the zodiac calendar’s 12 signs except Vietnam replaces the rabbit with the cat and the ox with the buffalo. Thus, 2023 was the Year of the Cat in Vietnam.
Both China and Vietnam follow the same Lunar New Year calendar and although some traditions are shared, others are unique to each country’s cultural identity. There is also the Korean New Year, known as Seollal, and other Lunar New Years celebrated in other Asian countries.
| Difference | Chinese | Vietnamese |
| Lunar New Year Name | “Chinese New Year” or “Lunar New Year” or “Spring Festival” | “Vietnamese New Year” or “Tết” |
| Time Difference | Tết is the same day as the Chinese New Year except with the one-hour time difference between Vietnam and China results in the new moon occurring on different days | |
| Zodiac System | Ox and Rabbit | Buffalo replaces Ox and Cat replaces Rabbit |
| Popular Traditions | Popular traditions include putting up lanterns and Spring Festival couplets, eating reunion dinners full of auspicious food, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, and giving red envelopes. | Popular traditions include eating a traditional cake (bánh chưng), decorating houses with hoađào (peach blossom trees) or hoamai (yellow Mai flower, a type of tree with yellow flowers). |
Chinese vs Vietnamese Zodiac
| Chinese Zodiac | Vietnamese Zodiac |
| Rat | Rat |
| Ox | Buffalo |
| Tiger | Tiger |
| Rabbit | Cat |
| Dragon | Dragon |
| Snake | Snake |
| Horse | Horse |
| Goat | Goat |
| Monkey | Monkey |
| Rooster | Rooster |
| Dog | Dog |
| Pig | Pig |
Related Articles
| Fairs & Festivals In Orange County | Holidays & National Day Calendar |
| Federal & California Holiday Calendar | Irvine Global Village Festival |
