Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Tet, is an annual celebration held across a wide breadth of Asian cultures to celebrate the start of a new and prosperous year on the lunar calendar. From parades and festivals to lion dancing and dragon boat rides, here’s a sampling of ways to join in on the festivities from right here in the Bay Area.
Year of the Dragon at Commonwealth Club: 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 24, Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco. Join the Commonwealth Club of California in celebrating the Year of the Dragon with Chinese culture and cuisine, as well as a talk by Consul General Zhang Jianmin from the People’s Republic of China. $0-$25. bit.ly/YearoftheDragonCC
Year of the Dragon at Children’s Fairyland: Jan. 26-28, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. In celebration of Lunar New Year, Children’s Fairyland is planning three days of fortune-filled fun including dragon parades, lion dancing, a live storyteller and arts and crafts activities. $5-$16. bit.ly/LNYfairyland
Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27-28, 388 Ninth St., Oakland. The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Lunar New Year with a bazaar highlighting Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultural traditions and art forms. Enjoy two days of entertainment, art, food, beverages, and opportunities to support local businesses. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYbazaar
Lunar New Year at SF Ferry Building: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 28, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco. The Chung Ngai Lion Dancers will perform outside the Ferry Marketplace, and Jojo’s Calligraphy will host a pop-up demonstrating calligraphy art and giving out free custom mementos during this celebration. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYferrysf
Oakland Little Saigon Lunar New Year Festival: 12 to 4 p.m. Jan. 28, Clinton Park, 655 International Blvd., Oakland. This Tết celebration will feature lion dancing, Ao Dai singers, a Vietnamese artist, local artisans, food vendors, giveaways and other engaging activities. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYlittlesaigon
Lunar New Year at OMCA: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Ring in the Year of the Dragon at the Oakland Museum of California. This celebration will uplift AAPI communities while exploring the shared connections between Asian cultures of the Bay Area through family-friendly storytelling, performances and activities. Find updated ticket info at bit.ly/LNYomca
Lunar New Year at Children’s Discovery Museum: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. Kick off the Year of the Dragon with a celebration bringing together Chinese and Vietnamese traditions. Create your own branch of flowers to symbolize good fortune in the coming year and enjoy performances of the ever-popular Lion Dance by Yun Yee Tong USA. $0-$18. cdm.org/event/lunar-new-year-7/
Lunar New Year at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 3, 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. Enjoy a cultural celebration featuring lion and dragon dancing, calligraphy, traditional paper cutting and adventures in the Chinese Zodiac. $0-$22. bit.ly/LNYcmosc
Lunar New Year x Black History Month: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 3, 388 Ninth St., Oakland. The Oakland Asian Cultural Center will celebrate Asian and African-American solidarity at festivities that include Black and Asian martial artists and live music and dance groups such as Blood Moon Orchestra, Diamano Coura drummers and CAL VSA Lion Dancers. Free admission. https://oacc.cc/oacc-events/
Lunar New Year with Chinese Wineries: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 3, Vin En Noir, 1001 Caymus St., Napa. Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of the Chinese New Year while indulging in fine wines from Chinese-owned wineries and bites by chef Leilani inspired by the flavors of the East. $75-$259. bit.ly/LNYchinesewinery
Lunar New Year at Beringer Vineyards: 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 2000 Main St., St. Helena. Join Beringer Vineyards in welcoming in the Year of the Dragon with wine, Asian-inspired fare and a live performance by traditional lion dancers. $35. bit.ly/LNYberinger
Milpitas Lunar New Year Celebration: 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 3, 457 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas. Join the fun at the Milpitas Civic Center Plaza where Lunar New Year festivities will feature dragons, dancing, entertainment, food and a firecracker finale. Free admission. milpitas.gov/1179/Lunar-New-Year
Embarrassed By Night Celebrates Lunar New Year: 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Feb. 3, Brava Theater, 2781 24th St., San Francisco. Embarrassed by Night, the standup comedy showcase and podcast celebrating Vietnamese-American culture, is making its San Francisco debut as part of SF Sketchfest, bringing together some of the festival’s finest AAPI talent to help ring in the Year of the Dragon. $28. bit.ly/LNYxEBN
San Jose Lunar New Year Festival: 12 to 8 p.m. Feb. 3-4, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose. Celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year at History Park at this festival which typically features arts and crafts, dancing, music, a dragon parade and storytelling. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYsanjose
San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade: Feb. 3 to Mar. 3, San Francisco venues. The festivities will include the traditional Flower Market Fair (Feb. 3-4), Chinese New Year Celebration and Choy Sun Doe (Feb. 10), a Chinese New Year Parade (Feb. 24) with floats, ferocious lions, firecrackers and a 288-foot long Golden Dragon, and a community street fair (Feb. 24-25) with Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming and more. Free admission. chineseparade.com/
CABS Chinese New Year Gala: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 4, William E. Walker Recreation Center, 650 Shell Blvd., Foster City. Join the Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society for a Chinese New Year celebration featuring authentic Chinese food, drinks, music, singing, dancing, Guzheng (Chinese zither), martial arts and other entertainment. $10-$30. bit.ly/CNYcabs
Lunar New Year at Sunnyvale Public Library: 1 to 6 p.m. Feb. 4, 665 W. Olive Ave, Sunnyvale. Enjoy a Lunar New Year celebration featuring cultural performances from lion dancers and the Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, plus a themed photo booth and arts and crafts activities. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYlibrary
‘Lunar New Year Love Story’ Reading: 7 p.m. Feb. 8, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley. Stop by Mrs Dalloway’s to see acclaimed children’s book creators Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham read from and discuss their new young adult graphic novel, “Lunar New Year Love Story,” a heartwarming rom-com about fate, family and forgiveness — and lion dancing. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYlovestory
Chinese New Year at Breathless Wines: 5 p.m. Feb. 9, Breathless Sparkling Wines, 499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg. Celebrate the new year at Breathless Wines with dim sum, tarot readings and sparkling Lunar New Year delights. $35. bit.ly/SparklingLunar
PAAC Lunar New Year Celebration: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 323 Highland Ave., Piedmont. The Piedmont Asian American Club will host a community celebration featuring dim sum, lion dancing and art activities, as well as food and treats for purchase. $10 admission. bit.ly/LNYpaac
‘By The Light Of The Moon’ Lunar New Year Art Show: Feb. 9-10, 901 Civic Campus Way, Floor 2, South San Francisco. Enjoy artwork reflecting themes related to the moon, Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon. The juried, multimedia exhibit will feature two- and three-dimensional works and digital art. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYartshow
Lunar New Year Lantern Workshop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10, Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Room 208, Sonoma. In many Asian cultures, lanterns symbolize good luck, health and prosperity. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a special box lantern workshop led by Chinese American artist Kelly Autumn. $35-$75. bit.ly/LNYlantern
Mountain View Lunar New Year Celebration: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 10, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View. The Mountain View Community Center’s festive Lunar New Year celebration typically features Asian arts and music, traditional performances and fun games and activities. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYmountainview
Santana Row Lunar New Year Celebration: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10, Santana Row Park, San Jose. Santana Row welcomes the Year of the Dragon with a celebration featuring the exciting drumbeats and crashing cymbals of lion dances, cultural performances, surprise red envelopes and other festivities. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYsantanarow
Chinese New Year Jade Plant Workshop: 11:30 a.m. Feb. 10, 340 N. Ellsworth Ave., San Mateo. Celebrate the new year at this Luludi Living Art Studio workshop, where you’ll learn how to plant and decorate your own jade plant, a symbol of luck and prosperity in Chinese culture. $65. bit.ly/CNYjade
Lunar New Year at Jack London Square: 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 10, Jack London Square, Oakland. This Year of the Dragon celebration includes lion dancing, martial arts, arts and crafts, photo opportunities and giveaways. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYjacklondon
Lunar New Year at Rios Lovell Winery: 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 10, 6500 Tesla Road, Livermore. Celebrate Lunar New Year with an afternoon of wine tasting, live music and and Chinese food paired with Rios Lovell’s handcrafted wines. $29. bit.ly/LNYxRLW
Lunar New Year Bingo Marathon: 1 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 190 Bella Vista Road, Vacaville. Feeling lucky this year? Perhaps the cards will turn your way in the Year of the Dragon. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a bingo marathon presented by the Scarlet Brigade. $75-$145. bit.ly/LNYscarletbrigade
Lunar New Year at Baekjeong: Feb. 10, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara. Acclaimed Korean barbecue destination, Baekjeong, is celebrating Lunar New Year with complimentary bowls of tteok-guk to accompany guests’ dining experiences. baekjeongkbbq.com/
Elk Grove Lunar New Year Festival: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 10-11, 9950 Elk Grove Florin Road, Elk Grove. Join the Vietnamese American Community of Sacramento at Elk Grove Regional Park for a Tet and Lunar New Year celebration featuring live music, fun activities and food vendors. Free admission. vacos.org/
Navio Lunar New Year Brunch: Feb. 10-11, 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay. Enjoy a Lunar New Year brunch featuring traditional dishes at Navio, The Ritz-Carlton’s acclaimed Forbes four-star restaurant. With the hotel dressed in red with vibrant paper lanterns and red florals across the property, Navio is the perfect setting for a festive feast. $255. exploretock.com/navio/
Bankhead Lunar New Year Celebration: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 11, 2400 First St., Livermore. Celebrate the Year of the Wood Dragon at Bankhead Plaza with a festive event featuring demonstrations, performances and arts for the entire family. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYbankhead
Lunar New Year at SF Botanical Garden: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 11, 1199 Ninth Ave., San Francisco. This Golden Gate Park celebration invites participants of all ages to dance along to festive performances, play games for prizes and try their hands at traditional calligraphy, origami and auspicious crafts. Free admission. gggp.org/event/lunarnewyear/
Lunar New Year Dinner at Emperor Taste: 5:15 to 8:15 p.m. Feb. 11, 4052 Balboa St., San Francisco. This celebration dinner for the Year of the Dragon includes a festive family-style feast from a set seafood menu. Estimated $40-$45 per person. bit.ly/LNYdinnersf
Lunar New Year at USF: 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Feb. 15, Gleeson Library Plaza, 2495 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco. Join the Center for Asia Pacific Studies and other Asia-focused campus programs to ring in the Year of the Dragon with music, prizes, food and a traditional lion dance performance by Leung’s White Crane Association. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYusf
ACCC Lunar New Year Celebration: 12:30 to 2 p.m. Feb. 15, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Join the Avenidas Chinese Community Center in welcoming the Year of the Dragon with a festive celebration featuring lion dancing and other fun activities. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYaccc
Lunar New Year at FCC Portola: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Feb. 16, 2565 San Bruno Ave., San Francisco. Join Family Connections Centers for a Lunar New Year celebration featuring lion dance performers, arts and crafts, games and a lucky raffle drawing. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYportola
San Jose Lunar New Year Tet & Moon Festival: Feb. 16-18, Eastridge Center, 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose. Presented by UStar Productions, this festival features live music and entertainment, competitions, the Miss Viet Nam California Pageant, carnival rides and lion dancing, plus Asian retail, food and drink vendors. Free admission. facebook.com/UStarProductions/
Millbrae Lunar New Year Festival: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 17, 200-400 Broadway, Millbrae. Celebrate Lunar New Year in Downtown Millbrae with a cultural festival featuring live performances, firecrackers and lion dancing plus street food and art vendors. Free admission. eventsomg.com/
Lunar New Year at San Jose Museum of Art: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 17, 110 S. Market St., San Jose. Welcome the Year of the Dragon with art-making activities, cultural demonstrations and live performances. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYsanjosemoa
Lunar New Year at Berkeley Public Library: 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley. Berkeley Public Library’s celebration will feature a bilingual Mandarin story time, Cal Fei Tian dancers, Cal VSA Lion Dancers, Leung’s White Crane Lion Dancers, the SF Guzheng Music Society, Polymer Clay Food craft and a vendor fair. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYxBPL
Lunar New Year at San Francisco Symphony: 5 p.m. Feb. 17, Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Welcome the Year of the Dragon with the San Francisco Symphony at this annual new year concert that draws upon Asian traditions, past and present, in a celebration of music and community. $39-$109. bit.ly/LNYsfsymphony
MCCA Chinese New Year Dinner: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 17, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B St., San Rafael. Join the Marin Chinese Cultural Association in celebrating the new year with everything from jai and prawns to suckling pig and red bean soup, plus live performances including traditional guzheng and lion dancing. Find updated ticket info at bit.ly/CNYdinnermcca
Lunar New Year at SF Zoo: Feb. 17-19, Sloat Boulevard and Upper Great Highway, San Francisco. Head for the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens for a festive celebration featuring special activities and performances, and memorable animal connections for the whole family. $0-$31. bit.ly/LNYsfzoo
Oakland Lunar New Year Parade: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 18, 198 Seventh St., Oakland. Presented by the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, the 2023 edition of this event was Oakland Chinatown’s first Lunar New Year Parade in more than 50 years. The tradition continues in 2024 with another special celebration and parade beginning and ending at Wilma Chan Park. Free admission. ocic-ca.org/parade2024
Lunar New Year at City Center Bishop Ranch: 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 18, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon. Enjoy a Lunar New year celebration featuring colorful traditional dances, and exciting performances by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dancers. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYbishopranch
Lunar New Year Festival at Bay Area Discovery Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 19, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. Welcome the new year and learn about Asian cultures with this festive celebration featuring lion dancers, storyteller and calligraphers, as well as art projects, games, kung fu demonstrations and Chinese food. $2-$18. bit.ly/LNYbadm
Lunar New Year Vegan Feast and Concert: 7 to 10 p.m. Feb. 23, 1131 24th St., Oakland. Celebrate Chinese New Year with a vegan family-style feast at a communal table and a solo concert by saxophonist Francis Wong, who will perform original works that share the diasporic journey of his parents and siblings from the early 20th century to today. $105. bit.ly/LNYveganfeast
Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Experience: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 24, 1 Seawall Drive, Berkeley. Enjoy a Lunar New Year celebration by the Berkeley Racing and Canoe Center featuring lion dancing, a dumpling demonstration, dragon boat rides, paper crafts and other Chinese traditions. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYdragonboat
Redwood City Lunar New Year Celebration: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 24, Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway St., Redwood City. Redwood City’s 13th Annual Lunar New Year celebration includes lion dancers, martial artists, taiko drummers and other live performers, plus complimentary admission to the San Mateo County History Museum. Free admission. bit.ly/LNYrc
Sacramento Year of the Dragon Celebration: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 24, Luther Burbank High School, 3500 Florin Road, Sacramento. Enjoy a Chinese New Year celebration featuring traditional and modern Chinese dancing, kung fu demonstrations, cultural displays and activities and Chinese cuisine. Free admission. cnyca.net/
Millbrae Community Lunar New Year Banquet: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 29, 1180 El Camino Real, Millbrae. Millbrae Rotary’s 17th annual Lunar New Year banquet at Yan Peninsula Restaurant includes a 10-course Chinese feast and the colorful Gee Yung Lions. $88. bit.ly/LNYbanquetmillbrae
Have an Lunar New Year event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.
Source: www.mercurynews.com