California Festivals

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California Chinese, Tet, Lunar New Year Festivals

2025 is the Year of the Snake

Are you a "snake"? If you were born in: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, you may be!

Snake is the sixth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac sign. In ancient Chinese traditions, the snake is one of the earliest totems of Chinese nations. People born in the Year of the Snake are considered rational, calm, thoughtful, and loyal to the loved ones.


ALHAMBRA: Lunar New Year Celebration

February 8, 2025, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Main Street
Free, alhambralunarnewyear.com


ANAHEIM: Disneyland Lunar New Year

January 17-February 16, 2025

Disneyland Resort
1313 S. Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA

Disneyland Tickets

See and get your picture taken with Minnie & Mickey Mouse in their splendid costumes and be sure to catch Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession, a bright and bold parade presented by Mulan and her faithful dragon, Mushu, along with a Chinese dragon puppet, warriors, drummers and dancers.


ARCADIA: Lunar New Year

February 15, 2025, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Los Angeles County Arboretum
301 N. Baldwin Ave.
Aracadia, CA
$15, arboretum.org
All activities are included with paid admission. Reservations are encouraged

  • Red Envelope Wildflower Seed Giveaway
  • Cabbage Planting Station
  • Year of the Snake Crafts: Snake masks, Paper snakes
  • Snake and Reptile Meet & Greet
  • Photo-Op: Free photo at photo booth.
  • Food Trucks & Vendors
  • Peacock Cafe Specials Menu with Steamed Bao Chicken and Vegetable; Potstickers with Sweet Chili & Garlic Dipping Sauce;
  • 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Lion Dance and Kung Fu Demonstration by Fong's Kung Fu 

BERKELEY: Berkeley Solano Ave. Lunar New Year

Celebration February 2, 2025, 10 a.m. Solano Avenue Association Peralta Park 1559 Solano Ave. Berkeley, CA Free, solanoavenueassn.org


COSTA MESA: Lunar New Year

February 1, 2025, 8 p.m.
Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Pacific Symphony festivities honoring Lunar New Year!  
$42.94-up, scfta.org/ events/ 2025/ lunar-new-year
A colorful presentation of Eastern and Western music and dance.


GARDEN GROVE: Tet Festival Chinese New Year 

January 31-February 2, 2025
Garden Grove Park
9301 Westminster Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92844
$8, tetfestival.org
UVSA Tet Festival has decades long tradition in Orange County. Foods, contests, entertainment and strong attendance due to its location as the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam!


LOS ANGELES: Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year

March 22, 2025, 1-4 p.m.
lachinesechamber.org
Los Angeles Chinese Chamber of Commerce hosts this beloved annual  event which includes a beauty pageant and banquet held one evening before the date of the parade.
 


GLENDALE: Lunar New Year Parade

February 8, 2025, 1-4 p.m.

The Americana at Brand
889 Americana Way
Glendale, CA
Free, americanaatbrand.com
New Year Parade welcomes the excitement of traditional lion and dragon dances, along with performances by the Korean Dance Team, at The Americana at Brand.


LOS ANGELES/ SAN PEDRO: Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival

January 25, 2025, 3-7 p.m.
Free, portoflosangeles.org
Port of Los Angeles celebrates each year with a huge street fair filled with entertainment, crafts, food for sale and more.


MARYSVILLE: Bok Kai Festival

March 1-2, 2025
Downtown Marysville
Marysville, CA
bokkaitemple.com/ bokkai-weekend
Billed as a year of elegance, wisdom and transformation, the event celebrates Chinese community with  the annual Bok Kai parade from the crowning of the Bok Kai Parade Hostess to the Parade and community festivities that culminate in Bomb Day.


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MILLBRAE: Millbrae Lunar New Year Festival

January 25-26, 2025, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
lunar New Year Festival and Street Fair, Golden Mouse Parade, Outdoor Performances 
400 Broadway
Millbrae, CA
Centered at 300-400 blocks of Broadway. Boba tea, matcha ice cream, Asian BBQ, coconut pudding, fresh popcorn… 20+ food vendors offer you amazing delicious food! Custom face painting, bounce houses, fashion clothing, fortune telling… and more. Free, millbraeculture.org


MONTEREY PARK: Lunar New Year Festival

January 18-19, 2025
Seven blocks on Garvey Avenue
lunarnewyears.com
Large street fair with vendors galore, great food options and entertainment for all ages.


NEVADA CITY: The Nevada City Chinese Lunar New Year Festival and Parade

February 23, 2025, 12-4:30 p.m.
Parade starts at 12 p.m. (Noon)
Chinese Monument on Commercial Street to Robinson Plaza on Union Street
Nevada City, CA
Free, catsweb.org
Presented by Community Asian Theatre of the Sierras (CATS) 
The community parade begins at Robinson Plaza on Union Street, heads up Commercial Street past the Chinese Monument, left turn and down Broad Street, right turn on Bridge Street, cross Spring Street, and into the Miners Foundry, for an afternoon of entertainment, food, and fun! Free admission at the Foundry.  Parade units include Chinese ceremonial Lion Dancers and a 72' Chinese Dragon from Eastern Ways Martial Arts of Sacramento, Grass Valley Taiko drummers, school children, and other community entries. 


OAKLAND: Lunar New Year Celebration
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February 8, 2025, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oakland Museum of California includes Chinese Opera face makeup, acrobatics. Year of the Monkey Valentine's Day celebration includes Asian arts


OAKLAND: Lunar New Year Celebration

February 1, 2025, 1-3 p.m.
Jack London Square
Scott's Pavilion
Broadway/ Embarcadero West
Oakland, CA
Free, jacklondonsquare.com
Lion dancers, martial arts performances, kids crafts, Year of the Snake selfie photo op and Dragon Boat race featuring Oakland Renegades Dragon vs .  Alameda DragonFlyers. Dragon boat racing is a team sport that originated in China over 2,000 years ago. 


PALOS VERDES PENINSULA: Lunar New Year Celebration

February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23, 2025 (weekends in Feb.) 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Boulevard
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
$15-23, southcoastbotanicgarden.org
Festive activities include Lion dancers, Fan dancing, Drummers, Martial Arts, Chinese zodiac scroll making, paper lantern decorating, Chinese paper cutting, Chinese game booths, a Chinese calligraphy artist demonstration and storytelling.


PASADENA: Lunar New Year Festival 

February 1, 2025, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
USC Pacific Asia Museum
46 North Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena, California
pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu
Lion dancers, traditional East Asian music and dance, opera,   live stories, festive crafts, and treat yourself to some delicious delicacies from local food trucks. 


POMONA: Asian American Expo

February 15-16, 2025
Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA
$20 with optional add-ons Anime Expo, K-Play Fest and Collector's Expo, $ parking, aaexpo.com


REDWOOD CITY: Lunar New Year Celebration

February 1, 2025, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Courthouse Square
Redwood City, CA
Free
Free Museum Admission this day Redwood City, its Parks Recreation and Community Services Department, and partner Redwood City International will be hosting the  14th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration! Celebrate the new year with lion dancers, martial artists, taiko drummers, and other live performances, for this celebration of the Year of the Snake. Plus, folks can enjoy FREE ADMISSION to the San Mateo County History Museum where they can find FREE Kids Arts and Crafts!

January 28, 2025, 6:30-7 p.m.
Lunar New Year with Perry Yan @ Redwood Shores Branch Library, 399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City, CA
Magician Perry Yan presents a Lunar New Year Program. Free books and giveaways available while supplies last. redwoodcity.org


RIVERSIDE: Riverside Lunar New Year Festival

January 25-26 2025
Downtown Riverside between Lime and Orange
453 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501
Free admission, calfestival.com


SACRAMENTO/ ELK GROVE: Lunar Flower Fest & Little Saigon Tet Parade

February 1-2, 2025
Elk Grove Regional Park
Elk Grove, CA
Vietnamese Community of Sacramento and Greater Sacramento Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce Present Little Saigon Tet Parade & Lunar Flower Fest


SACRAMENTO: Chinese New Year Cultural Association Festival 

February 8, 2025, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hiram Johnson High School
6879 14th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95820
$10-15 stage show entertainment, Free admission to the exhibitions and shopping, cnyca.net


SAN DIEGO: Little Saigon San Diego Lunar New Year Tet Festival

January 31-February 2, 2025
Mira Mesa Community Park
sdtet.com
Entertainers include: Lion Dance, Carnival, Food, Contests, Beauty Contest


SAN DIEGO: Chinese New Year

February 8-9, 2025, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Downtown Food and Cultural Fair
chinesenewyearfairesandiego. godaddysites.com/


SAN DIEGO:  Lunar New Year Festival

January 24-26, 2025
Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park
sdlunarnewyearfestival.com


SAN DIEGO: San Diego Zoo Lunar New Year

February 1-2, 2025
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA
$ Tickets, zoo.sandiegozoo.org/ lunar-new-year
Celebrate Lunar New Year and Wild Weekend: Asia to make a difference for vulnerable and endangered Asian wildlife, including giant pandas. Activities include Flavors of Asia served in cafe, Bambo Panda character photos, giant panda ear & rattle drum crafts, Red Envelope Wishing Trees, Asian wildlife sloth bears, sun bears, tigers, Asian leopards & red pandas, and register for Early Morning with Panda Walking Tour.


SAN FRANCISCO: Chinese New Year Parade

February 15, 2025, 5-9 p.m.
chineseparade.com
See the biggest parade  outside of Asia celebrating the lunar new year.


SAN FRANCISCO: America's Got Talent LionDanceMe Lunar New Year Performance

February 2, 2025, 2:30 p.m.
Bogart Courtyard of Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA
Free admission on the first Sunday of every month, reserve your free ticket online: asianart.org

 


SAN GABRIEL: San Gabriel Lunar Lantern Festival

February 1-2, 2025
San Gabriel Mission District
320 S. Mission Drive
San Gabriel, CA
Free admission, sangabrielcity.com
Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, February 2, 2025, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Amazing Lantern displays unveiled for the first time
Live Performances
Street Foods
Shopping


SAN JOSE: Lunar New Year Tet & Moon Festival

February 7-9, 2025
Eastridge Mall
Sears Parking Lot, corner of Tully & Quimby
Free Entrance, Free Parking 
facebook.com/UStarProductions/
10th annual Hoi Xuan event in 2025 features the same great attractions from years past, plus even more. Family oriented entertainment, variety of foods for sale, unique vendors and lots of photo opportunities.


SAN MARINO: Chinese New Year Celebration

February 1-2, 2025
Huntington Library & Gardens
San Marino, CA
huntington.org/ event/ lunar-new-year-festival
Sat., Feb. 1, 2025, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 2, 2025, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.


STOCKTON: Chinese New Year Celebration

March 8, 2025, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church Community Center
33 W. Alpine Avenue
Stockton, CA 95204
$10 tickets sold day of or at Dave Wong's in advance
More info: ccs4you@att.net or jlljhuey@gmail.com
(209) 473-3499
Come out to the Annual Stockton Chinese New Year Celebration. It's the biggest Chinese New Year party in the Central Valley! Lions, dragons and snakes presented by dance teams sizzle and gyrate, all part of the day of entertainment.


TEMPLE CITY: Lunar New Year Street Festival

January 25, 2025, 12-4 p.m.
Temple City Park
9701 Las Tunas
Temple City, CA
ci.temple-city.ca.us
Invite Friends Lunar New Year Street Festival. Ring in the Year of the Pig with a lively street fair featuring family-friendly games, vendor booths, food, live performances and much more! Cultural Pageantry, Family Activities, Information Booths, Live Entertainment and Traditional Cuisine


WESTMINSTER: Cho Hoa Flower Festival

January 9-27, 2025, 6-10 p.m.
Asian Garden Mall
Asian Garden Mall
9200 Bolsa Ave.
Westminster, CA
facebook.com/AsianGarden/
Free to see, asiangardenmall.com
Barbeque vendors start cooking nightly at 6 p.m.


WESTMINSTER: Little Saigon Tet Festival Parade

February 1, 2025, 9:30 a.m. Parade | Opening Ceremony 8:30 a.m.
Bolsa Avenue between Magnolia Street and Bushard Street
Westminster, CA
westminster-ca.gov
Parade route: Begin on Bolsa Avenue at Magnolia Street,  heading east to Bushard Street, turn right, ending at Bishop Place 
Thousands of people come to see this festive event with beautiful costumes, floats and classic cars.


While Californians come from hundreds of countries and cultures there are several prominent types of New Year celebrations organized and hosted by cities, civic clubs, chambers of commerce and private enterprise.  From the traditional American celebration on New Year's Eve to New Year's Day (December 31-January 1) to those whose dates are determined by lunar cycles, each culture has its own spin. Fireworks are an element found in most. Parades, games, food, music, dancing and contests are popular - and in most Asian cultures costumes play a big part in honoring traditions spanning  generations.

 

not confirmed

 

FOUNTAIN VALLEY: OC Tet Festival

Mile Square Park

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.

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