Lunar New Year is the start of the new year in accordance to the lunar calendar, which usually falls between late January and early February. It is celebrated in countries including, China, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam. This year Lunar New Year is celebrated Tuesday, February 17.
Personally, in my Chinese culture, my favorite part of Lunar New Year is the food. We would have jai (monk's food), gao (sweet sticky rice cake), jin dui (sesame balls), and candied fruit in served in tea. Each food eaten during Chinese New Year is associated with greater values. Ingredients in jai represents wealth and happiness, while eating noodles would symbolize longevity. As kids, we would receive lai see (red envelopes with money) from our elders, symbolizing success in the future. There would be celebrations around town with lion dances. Feeding these lions with cash, will bring blessings and good fortune to you. These celebrations are not only about food, fun, and receiving lai see. It's also a time to remembering ancestors and celebrating with loved ones.
Check out some of the Lunar New Year Events happening in and around Irvine. *Please check their websites for any updated information.
LUNAR NEW YEAR EVENTS
Irvine and surrounding areas
📍 Asian Garden Mall – Westminster
- Flower Festival: Jan 29 – Feb 15, daily 10am–10pm (food vendors Thurs–Sun evenings)
- Lunar New Year Firecracker Show: Feb 17, 2026 • ~Noon (music, firecrackers, lion dance)
🐉 The Great Race: A Chinese New Year Adventure
📍 Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa
🗓️ January 31 – February 1, 2026
📍 Outlets at San Clemente
- Lunar New Year family fest with performances & crafts — February 1 - 23
📍 Family Festival - Santa Ana
- Celebrate with Bowers Museum — February 1
📍 Irvine Great Park — Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
- Feb 7, 2026 (parade + festival activities)
📍 South Coast Plaza - Macy's
- Feb 7, 2026 1p - 3p
📍 Irvine Barclay Theatre & Plaza
- Lunar New Year cultural performances — February 9, 2026 • 1:30p - 6p
📍 Diamond Jamboree – Irvine
- Lunar New Year celebration with performance & cultural activities — February 15 • 5p - 7p
📍 Tet Festival – Garden Grove / Little Saigon area
- Large Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival (parade, food, live shows) — February 13–15, 2026
📍 Pretend City – Irvine
- Kids’ Lunar New Year activities — February 15
📍 Fashion Island – Newport Beach
- Lunar New Year Celebration: Garden of Good Fortune — Feb 28, 2026 • 12pm – 3pm (calligraphy, lion dance, family activities)
📍 Irvine Spectrum Center
- Lunar New Year Celebration — Mar 1, 2026 • Noon – 4pm (lion & dragon dance, performances, kids’ crafts)
📍 Segerstrom Concert Hall / Pacific Symphony – Costa Mesa
- O.C. Lantern Festival — March 7, 2026 (lantern making, performances, dragon & lion dances)
LUNAR NEW YEAR EVENTS
South Bay and surrounding LA areas
📍 Sunday, January 11, 2026
🎉 Torrance Lunar New Year Festival
📍 Torrance Cultural Arts Center
⏰ 10am – 6pm
📅 Saturday, January 18, 2026
🎪 Lunar Kpopalooza
📍 Playa Vista
🚚 Food Trucks • 🎯 Games • 🎤 Performances
📍 Koreatown Lunar Night Market - Koreatown Plaza
⏰Lion dancing, Vendors — January 31
📍 January 31 – February 1, 2026
🐉 Monterey Park Lunar New Year Festival
📍 Downtown Monterey Park (Garvey Ave)
⏰ Sat 10am – 9pm • Sun 10am – 7pm
🌿 Every Weekend in February 2026
🎊 Lunar New Year Celebration
📍 South Coast Botanic Garden
🛍️ February 14 - 15
🎉 Lunar New Year Celebration
📍 Citadel Outlets
🐲 Saturday, February 21, 2026
🥁 Golden Dragon Lunar New Year Parade
📍 LA Chinatown
⏰ 1pm
🐲 Saturday, February 21, 2026
🥁 Lunar New Year Celebration
📍 Manhattan Village
⏰ 11am - 2pm
📅 Saturday, February 21, 2026
🐉 Cabrillo Way Marina – San Pedro Lunar New Year
📍 Cabrillo Way Marina / Port of Los Angeles area (San Pedro)
⏰ 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (approx)
📅 Sunday, February 22, 2026
🎉 Volvo Lunar New Year Celebration
📍 La Puente Park
⏰ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📅 Sunday, February 22, 2026
🎉 Lunar New Year Celebration
📍 The Point El Segundo
⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🎇 Saturday, February 28, 2026
🎊 Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival
📍 Main Street, Alhambra
⏰ 9am – 6pm
📅 Saturday, February 28 – Sunday, March 1, 2026
🏃♂️ LA Chinatown Firecracker Run & Lunar New Year Festival
📍 Chinatown Central Plaza, LA Chinatown – Los Angeles
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