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 Saturday, February 10, 2024 and ends on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Tết and Chinese New Year will celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
Lunar New Year Events In Orange County
2024 Lunar New Year Events will be posted as the date nears.
Anaheim
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park
January 23, 2024 – February 18, 2024
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 Lucky Wishes Wall with ornamental lanterns and add a special message for the upcoming year.
Lantern Festival Market
GardenWalk
400 W. Disney Way, Anaheim, CA 92802
TBA
The Lantern Festival Market at GardenWalk includes lots of vendors and small businesses, face painting, a DJ, selfie spots, and more ways to celebrate.
Costa Mesa
UVSA Tết Festival
February 9-11, 2024
OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92686
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.
OC Lantern Festival
Saturday, March 2, 2024 | 11AM – 4PM
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 10, 2024 | Begins at 8PM
Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Dragon with music, dancing, and fusions of musical traditions from East and West, conducted by Music Director Carl St. Clair. Additional guest and performers will include Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony, and more.
South Coast Plaza
February 8-25, 2024
3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
See Lunar New Year displays including photo exhibits, shop limited time capsule 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 botanical display, take photos, and make a new year wish.
Fountain Valley
Lunar New Year OC Tet Festival
Friday, February 9 – Sunday, February 11, 2024
Mile Square Park
16801 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley, CA
This free, three day celebration for the Lunar New Year includes multicultural activities and an abundance of food. There will be live performances, traditional events, vendors, carnival rides, Vietnamese Cultural Center, and more.
Lunar New Year Festival
Saturday, February 3, 2024 | 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
Saturday, February 3 & 10, 2024 | 2PM – 10PM
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, magicians, 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
Friday, February 9, 2024 | 1PM
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
February 10 & 11, 2024
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, vendors, and more at this free event.
Huntington Beach
Bella Terra Lunar New Year Maker Market & Celebration
Saturday, February 3, 2024 | 12PM – 5PM
Celebrate on the green in front of the movie theater for performances, music, meet & greets, and shop from 20+ small businesses.
Irvine
UCI Lunar New Year
Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 | 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
February 10-11, 2024
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
February 10, 2024
Diamond Jamboree | 2700 – 2750 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606
Celebrate the Year Of The Dragon with performances, crafts, and giveaways for a happy and prosperous New Year.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 | 11AM – 2PM
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.
Culver Plaza Lunar New Year Celebration
February 10, 2024 | 12PM – 2PM
15275 Culver Drive, Irvine, CA 92604
Event near Dave’s Hot Chicken and Meizhou Dongpo
This special community event includes MAD dance performances, a live DJ, dragon and lion dances, acrobats, crafts, and much more to enjoy.
Woodbury Town Center Lunar New Year Celebration
February 11, 2024 | 11AM – 1PM
6200 Irvine Blvd., Irvine, CA 92620
Located near LA Fitness in the Courtyard
This event includes traditional dragon and lion dances, photo ops, live performers demonstrating acrobatics and drumming, crafts, and a DJ.
Newport Beach
Fashion Island Displays & Promotions
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 | 12PM – 2PM
Discover a variety of Lunar New Year activities and demonstrations throughout the center, along with insta-worthy photo moments. Plus, enter to Win social sweepstakes and receive special Lunar New Year promotions.
San Clemente
D. Yoder Family Sundays Lunar New Year Event
February 4, 2024 | 10AM – 2PM
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 3, 2024 | 2PM – 7PM
Centennial Park | 3400 W Edinger Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92704
This first-ever 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.
Chinese New Year Festival
February 4, 2024 | 11AM – 3PM
Bower’s Museum
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
This free family festival celebrates the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon. Enjoy art, music, dancing, face painting, art projects, food, and more. Don’t miss the lion dance or decorating paper lanterns.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 12-3PM
MainPlace Mall
2800 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with an an array of cultural activities and performances that will both educate and entertain guests.
Silverado
Celebrate Cultures In Nature: Chinese Lunar New Year
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 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 rabbit all while visiting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks on an easy trail adventure.
Tustin
The District Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 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. No RSVP needed, while supplies last. Stop by the AMC Courtyard to take family photos at our lit up Photo Backdrop to commemorate the New Year! Photo Pagoda will be open daily from Jan. 26 through Feb. 18.
The Market Place Lunar New Year Celebration
Sunday, February 11, 2024 | 11AM – 2PM
Tustin Market Place in the Courtyard Near Mathis Home
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, stilt walkers, crafts, and demos.
Villa Park
Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 10 a.m. – 2 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 18 – February 8, 2024
Flower Festival: 10am to 10pm
Night Food Vendors: 6 pm to 10 pm
Firecracker Celebration: TBA @ 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 10, 2024 beginning at 9:30AM | Opening Ceremony at 8:30AM
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.
LA & SD Area Lunar New Year Events
Desert Hills Premium Outlets Lunar New Year Celebration | Feb. 11, 2024 | 12PM-3PM | 48400 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230
Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival (Golden Dragon Parade) | February 17, 2024 | Starts at 12PM; Parade at 1 PM | 943 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival | Feb. 3, 2024 | 3PM – 7PM | 301 S. Avalon Blvd., Wilmington, CA
Lunar New Year Festival – Monterey Park | Sat/Sun, January 27-28, 2024 | Downtown Monterey Park Garvey Avenue (between Garfield Ave & Alhambra Ave, Monterey Park)
Lunar New Year at Santa Monica Place | Saturday, February 17 | 2PM – 5PM | 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The Grove Lunar New Year | TBA | 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Asian American Expo | January 13-14, 2024 | Fairplex Pomona 2705 Fairplex Drive, Pomona, CA 91768
San Diego Lunar New Year Festival in City Heights | Feb. 9-11, 2024 | 4455 Wightman Street, San Diego, CA
Annual San Diego Chinese New Year Fair | Feb. 24-25, 2024 | Downtown San Diego at 3rd Avenue & G Street
Huntington Library Chinese New Year Festival | Feb. 1-11, 2024 | The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
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.
Chinese New Year vs Tet New Year
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 |
| Where To Buy Lunar New Year Decorations | OC Cherry Blossom Festival |
