It’s almost time to slither into the Year of the Snake! This year, the Lunar New Year falls on January 29, and we’ve put together the ultimate guide to the best Lunar New Year events in Orange County, including parades, festivals, and other fun cultural events. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, be sure to mark these events on your calendar for a promise of joy, prosperity, and an unforgettable start to the new lunar year.
1. Lunar New Year at Disney’s California Adventure Park
- Dates: January 17 – February 16, 2025
- Location: California Adventure Park, Anaheim
While the most expensive option on this list with average admission tickets starting at $104 a day per person for a single-day pass (though see our tip below for a special SoCal resident deal!), the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park is a magical and immersive experience certainly worth mentioning. In addition to simply enjoying all of what the theme park typically has to offer, guests will have the opportunity celebrate the Year of the Snake through a bunch of great special crafts, merch, food, and activities only available during this event.
Among the favorites is the opportunity to indulge in Asian-inspired cuisine at various marketplaces like Longevity Noodle Co., Lucky 8 Lantern, Prosperity Bao & Buns, and more. We recommend getting the Sip & Savor Pass in order to taste samples of all the different tasty items available!
During certain days, you can also get the opportunity to view Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession or a special World of Color pre-show, Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration. Additionally, the festival offers unique opportunities to meet special Disney characters, including Mulan & Mushu (Mulan), Meilin & Ming Lee (Turning Red) in San Francisco Street, and Raya (Raya and the Last Dragon) in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Not to mention Mickey & Minnie dressed in all new colorful Korean attire!
TIP! SoCal residents are eligible for a specially priced 3-day ticket starting at $67 a day. Learn more here. To enjoy even more throughout your day, we also recommend getting a Genie+ Pass.
2. Santa Ana Tết Lunar New Year Festival
- Date: January 25, 2025
- Time: 1 PM – 6 PM
- Location: Centennial Park, Santa Ana
The city of Santa Ana is hosting it second annual Santa Ana Tết Festival, this year to celebrate the year of the snake! This event is FREE to the public with a goal of celebrating not only the new lunar year but also the great Asian and Vietnamese cultures that make up Santa Ana (and OC at large).
In addition to live cultural performances, traditional art and food vendors, they also host several special activities specifically geared toward kids. These activities include a kids zone, inflatables, and a “library lane”—created in collaboration with the Santa Ana Library—complete with storytime and other fun resources.
Making this event even more special, this festival ends with a fireworks show beginning at 5:45 PM. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair, blankets, and picnics.
3. Steelcraft Lunar New Year Festival
- Date: January 25, 2025
- Time: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Location: SteelCraft, 12900 S Euclid Street, Garden Grove
For a smaller scale event that is no less fun (and also has FREE admission!), check out SteelCraft Garden Grove’s Lunar New Year Festival! As a unique urban outdoor eatery with a variety of food vendors that set up shop in repurposed shipping containers, their usual vendors will not only serve their typical menu but also a number of food and drink specials to mark the occasion.
But what really makes SteelCraft’s event stand out is not necessarily the food but its diverse lineup of performances, including lion dancers, drummers, magicians, and singers. There are even some special activities and craft stations just for kids and families to enjoy, including face painting, balloon artists, and more between 1 PM – 4 PM. Additionally, SteelCraft will also feature a pop-up market hosted by Creative Babe Market featuring goodies for sale from local small businesses.
4. UVSA Tết Festival
- Dates: January 31 – February 2, 2025
- Location: Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Blvd, Garden Grove
As the largest Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival in the United States, the 43rd annual USVA Tet Festival brings together a blend of traditional customs and modern festivities, offering an array of activities that include cultural performances, authentic Vietnamese cuisine, and a variety of vendors. In the center of the festival is cultural village meant to replicate a traditional Vietnamese village. The village hosts a unique special ceremony each day of the festival, including Raising of the Bamboo, an Ancestral Altar Procession, and a Spring Wedding (complete with an actual bride and groom)!
This year will mark and commemorate the 50th anniversary of Black April (the Fall of Saigon), and they plan to honor the efforts of the Vietnamese community in building a home abroad through their theme “A Spring of Remembrance” or “Xuân Hoài Niệm”.
With its $8 admission fee (free for infants 2 years and under and for visitors dressed in traditional outfits, military, or scout uniforms), the UVSA Tet Festival invites everyone to partake in this unique cultural experience, promising a memorable time for attendees of all ages. For more information, visit Tet Festival.
TIP! You can get 10% off purchase of 4+ tickets with code TET4TEN at checkout!
5. 2025 Tết Parade
- Date: February 1, 2025
- Time: 8:30 AM
- Location: Little Saigon, Westminster
Begin the second weekend of the Lunar Near Year with the annual spectacular Tết Parade in Little Saigon, the heart of the Vietnamese culture and community in Orange County. This particular parade aims to not only celebrate the Lunar New Year but also our Vietnamese-American community here in Orange County (which is the largest community of those who identify as Vietnamese outside of Vietnam itself!). It’s free to the public and often attracts over 15,000 attendees each year, so we recommend arriving early to grab your spot!
At the parade, you can witness a colorful display of traditional dragon dances, colorful floats, and cultural performances by members of the community. This includes displays by local color guards, veteran and youth organizations, marching bands, elected officials, scout organizations, and more. The parade route is held on Bolsa Avenue, usually beginning at Magnolia Street and heading eastbound, ending at Bishop Place.
6. Pacific Symphony’s Lantern Festival
- Date: February 22, 2025
- Time: 11 AM – 4 PM
- Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
Wrap up your Lunar New Year celebrations with the Pacific Symphony’s Lantern Festival! For 2,000 years, Lantern Festivals have marked the return of spring and reunion of family on the first full moon night in the lunar calendar. Commemorating the end of the Lunar New Year celebration, this FREE family event presented in partnership with the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center/Irvine Chinese School, features a fun mix of music and dance performances, storytelling, riddles, art-making activities, and, of course, the beautiful lantern lighting.
While the event is free, access to the hall is limited and offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure a spot for the indoor performances, we recommend obtaining your tickets in advance. As a new opportunity this year, they are also offering a special “Festival Pass” for $50, which includes guaranteed entry (as well as exclusive early entry to get a head start on crafts and activities), priority seating for the first performance segment, and more. You can learn more here.
One Response
Hi! We are hosting an original Lunar New Year musical performed by elementary age children at a mandarin immersion school in orange county, and would love to be featured on your page! The musical is written and directed by an award winning artist, and is expected to make a splash in the AAPI community. May I send you more information?