Across Orange County, residents are gearing up to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Whether you follow the Chinese zodiac calendar and ring in 2023 as the Year of the Rabbit or the Vietnamese calendar and celebrate the Year of the Cat, here is a roundup of events happening across the county.
Anaheim
Disney California Adventure in Disneyland Resort will mark the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit with traditional cuisine and entertainment offerings, including special Disney character sightings. Celebrations will run from Jan. 20 through to Feb. 15.
The resort will also include celebrations recognizing the Vietnamese zodiac’s celebration of the Year of the Cat. Park tickets are needed to attend the Lunar New Year events.
Costa Mesa
In its 41st year, the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival will take place from Jan. 27-29. Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the main entrance.
This year’s theme is “Road to our Homeland” and will feature a Vietnamese cultural village, live entertainment, the Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant, food stalls and festive games. For more information, visit tetfestival.org.
Fountain Valley
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do will host the Orange County Tet Festival at Freedom Hall Lawn at Mile Square Park on Jan. 20-22, to celebrate the Year of the Cat. The free three-day festival will feature a variety of food stalls, live entertainment and carnival rides, and visitors will have an opportunity to experience different Vietnamese landscapes through an installation by the Vietnamese Cultural Center. More information can be found on Eventbrite.
Garden Grove
Garden Grove will mark Lunar New Year with an inaugural Flower Street event, featuring elaborate flower installations and art on Historic Main Street. The free event on Jan. 21-22, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. will feature lion dances, local musical performances and vendors from the Garden Grove Farmers Market. For more information, visit the city’s website at ggcity.org.
SteelCraft Garden Grove, the outdoor urban eatery, will host a Lunar New Year Festival with Hironline.co on Jan. 21, from 12-10 p.m. The free event will feature a Japanese samurai sword dance, lion dancers, traditional drummers, singers, magicians, a pop-up market and a car show. More information can be found on Eventbrite.
Irvine
UC Irvine’s multicultural festival includes a colorful parade with an animated dragon and prancing lion dance. The celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the UCI Student Center, Barclay Plaza and Theatre will also feature musical performances and a light show. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the UCI School of Social Sciences website.
Children can learn about Lunar New Year through activities planned at Pretend City Children’s Museum on Jan. 21, with art activities like making lanterns and pretend dumplings. In addition, at 2:30 p.m., the Ane Thanh Lion Dance group will perform a traditional number to bring good luck in the new year. Also, on Saturday (and repeating on Sunday, Jan. 22) at 11:30 a.m., Kishin Daiko drummers will perform Japanese percussive-style drumming that embodies the translation of Kishin which is energy, spirit and heart. General admission tickets are $19.95, with discounts offered for seniors and military members. For more information, visit the museum’s website.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana’s MainPlace Mall rings in the Year of the Rabbit with an array of cultural activities and performances on Jan. 21, from 2-5 p.m., including stilt walkers, a calligraphy artist, kids crafts, a face painter and a balloon twister. In addition, there will be performances by the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations, and the welcome table will give out red envelopes stuffed with $2 bills, plush rabbits and fortune cookies. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the MainPlace Mall’s website.
Families can ring in the Year of the Rabbit with displays of art and music and dance performances at the Bowers Museum’s Key Courtyard. Guests can also enjoy free face painting, treat samples and art projects like sculpting lucky rabbits and decorating paper lanterns. Access to the celebration is included with museum admission.
Westminster
The annual Tet parade, hosted by the City of Westminster, will take place on Sunday, Jan. 22, beginning at 9:30 a.m. along Bolsa Avenue starting at Magnolia Street eastbound to Bushard Street. The event is free and open to the public. More information can be found on Eventbrite.
Get ready for Lunar New Year by visiting the Flower Festival at Asian Garden Mall open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 20. In addition to blooms to adorn homes to welcome the new year, visitors can also shop for traditional foods and gifts. Entry is free.
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