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Best Lunar New Year Events in Los Angeles for Kids

Enjoy Lunar New Year lion dances, crafts, and more in the middle of Santa Monica. Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Place
Enjoy Lunar New Year lion dances, crafts, and more in the middle of Santa Monica. Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Place
1/19/25 - By Toby B

Lunar New Year in Los Angeles is a vibrant celebration that reflects the city's rich cultural diversity. From Chinatown to Little Tokyo and beyond, the streets come alive with colorful decorations, lively parades, and traditional performances. 

Celebrate in the serene setting of the Huntington Library's Chinese Garden, the exuberant Tet Parade in Westminster, or Lunar New Year at Disneyland with Mulan and Turning Red's Mei. Los Angeles bursts with lion dances, brightly glowing lanterns, and plenty of red envelopes. 

Keep reading below for more Lunar New Year events for kids in Los Angeles, and check our Los Angeles Events Calendar as more events are added daily. 

Please check official venue websites for official event updates. Some Lunar New Year events in Los Angeles are being postponed due to the recent Los Angeles wildfires. 

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Take the kids to the Lunar New Year Celebration at 2nd & PCH. Photo courtesy of the event
Take the kids to the Lunar New Year Celebration at 2nd & PCH. Photo courtesy of the event

Best Lunar New Year Celebrations in Los Angeles for Kids

Lunar New Year at Disneyland

Anaheim
Starts Friday, January 17, 2025
The Mouse celebrates Year of the Snake, as Disneyland Resort puts its trademark spin on Lunar New Year festivities. This limited-time, multicultural celebration commemorates Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean traditions with a touch of Disney magic. READ MORE

11th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival

San Pedro - FREE
Saturday, January 25, 2025
This year's Lunar New Year Festival at the LA Waterfront is held at Cabrillo Way Marina in San Pedro. This free community event celebrates Year of the Snake with cultural attractions, dance and musical performances, including a petting zoo and wishing wall, as well as food trucks offering culinary delights. READ MORE

Annual Lunar New Year Celebration (The District)

Tustin - FREE
Saturday, January 25 , 2025
The District at Tustin Legacy hosts its annual Lunar New Year event to kick off the Year of the Dragon.  The first 500 guests receive a lucky red envelope (containing a crisp $2 bill!) READ MORE

Beverly Center Lunar New Year Celebration

Beverly Grove
Saturday, January 25, 2025
An indulgence you can feel good about: 100% of proceeds from this event will be donated and matched to support the LAFD Foundation. Beverly Center celebrates the Year of the Snake in Grand Court. Guests can immerse themselves in a festive afternoon filled with live entertainment, activities, delicious bites, traditional drinks, and more. READ MORE

Lunar New Year at Plaza West Covina

West Covina - FREE
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Plaza West Covina celebrates the Lunar New Year with free festivities at the JC Penney Court. Families are invited to welcome the Year of the Snake with live dance performances, entertainment, crafts and a character meet and greet with Mulan. During the event, the first 300 guests who check in at Plaza West Covina can redeem a lucky red envelope with celebratory prizes, while supplies last. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration (The Shops at Santa Anita)

Arcadia - FREE
Saturday, January 25, 2025
The Shops at Santa Anita celebrate the rich traditions and vibrant festivities of the Lunar New Year with a day of activities for the whole family.  Performances to delight include intricate balloon twisting, skilled artisans in the ancient art of sugar painting, and artists who craft figurines out of dough. Korean-American K-Pop star Kevin Woo (known for the K-pop idol group U-KISS and the Broadway musical KPOP) gives a live performance at 3:15pm READ MORE

Santa Ana Tet Festival

Santa Ana - FREE
Saturday, January 25, 2025
The second annual Santa Ana Tết Festival celebrates the Year of the Snake. This free family-friendly event offers a day of cultural celebration featuring: traditional performances and exhibits, live entertainment including lion dance and dragon dance, library resources, and a Kids Zone and inflatables. READ MORE

Lunar New Year at Kidspace

Pasadena
Saturday & Sunday, January 25 & 26, 2025
Kidspace celebrates Year of the Snake. According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Snake is a time for renewal, transformation, and growth. The snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac and is associated with wisdom, charm, and elegance. Festivities include special art activities, a cozy pop-up library dedicated to the Chinese zodiac, spectacular traditional lion dog dances, and more.  READ MORE

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Pretend City

Irvine
Saturday & Sunday, January 25 & 26, 2025
Welcome to the Year of the Snake! Pretend City celebrates the Lunar New Year with colorful traditions, cultural stories, and fun for the whole family. Kishin Daiko Drummers give a rhythmic performance including Japanese percussive-style drumming, and adaptations of traditional Japanese taiko pieces.   Later in the day, Ane Thanh Lion Dance performs traditional Asian dancing including acrobatics and a live instrumental troupe to bring good luck into the new year.  READ MORE

Norton Simon Family Day: Lunar New Year

Pasadena
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Norton Simon visitors can celebrate the Year of the Snake by learning more about the holiday, exploring a collection of art pieces featuring snakes, and creating Lunar New Year crafts like red envelopes, paper lanterns, and snake puppets.  READ MORE

UVSA Tet Festival

Garden Grove
Friday - Sunday, January 31 - February 2, 2025
Each year, those of Vietnamese descent celebrate the coming lunar year with Tet Nguyen Dan. It celebrates the Lunar New Year, the beginning of spring, and a way to start fresh.  This year's event is held at Garden Grove Park. In 2025, the UVSA Tết Festival theme is “A Spring of Remembrance” or “Xuân Hoài Niệm”, honoring the efforts of the Vietnamese community in building a home abroad.  READ MORE

2025 Tet Parade

Westminster - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Little Saigon is home to the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam. More than 15,000 spectators are expected for the annual Little Saigon Tet Parade, with an additional 250,000 viewers watching on broadcast and streaming channels, making it the largest and most watched event of its kind in the US.  The parade celebrates Year of the Snake and the Vietnamese-American community of Orange County centered in Little Saigon. This year's theme is "Spring of Resiliency." READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at Cerritos Towne Center

Cerritos - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Cerritos Towne Center rings in the Year of the Snake at its annual Lunar New Year event. Highlights of the free event include Lion Dance performances, kids' crafts, photo ops, stilt walkers, and lucky red envelope giveaways*. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Festival (USC Pacific Asia Museum)

Pasadena - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
USC Pacific Asia Museum's annual Lunar New Year festival celebrates the Year of the Snake. Guests can enjoy a traditional lion dance, storytelling, calligraphy and crafts, food trucks, free admission to the museum, and a chance to view the special exhibition, Cai Guo-Qiang: A Material Odyssey.​ READ MORE

Lunar New Year at Outlets at San Clemente

San Clemente - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
The Outlets at San Clemente celebrates the Lunar New Year with live performances, featuring local Mandarin Immersion Program student performers, and spectacular Dragon Dances and Lion Dances The free, family-friendly event includes face painting and other fun activities for all ages. READ MORE

San Gabriel Lunar Lantern Festival

San Gabriel - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, February 1 & 2, 2025
The City of San Gabriel presents its annual Lunar New Year Festival in the historic Mission District between Broadway and Santa Anita Blvd. The event includes the unveiling of lantern displays, as well as live performances. READ MORE

Chinese New Year Festival 2025

San Marino
Saturday & Sunday, February 1 & 2, 2025
Visitors can experience the beauty of Chinese music, dance, and culture at the Year of the Snake celebration, set against the stunning backdrop of the The Huntington’s Chinese Garden. READ MORE

Lunar New Year at the LA Zoo

Griffith Park
Saturday & Sunday, February 1 & 2, 2025
It's the Year of the Snake (and a whole lotta other creatures) at the LA Zoo. READ MORE

Annual Lunar New Year Celebration (The Citadel)

Commerce - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, February 1 & 2, 2025
The Citadel presents its annual Lunar New Year celebration. Year of the Snake is celebrated with Lunar New Year inspired entertainment taking place throughout the center and in Center Court. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes
Saturdays & Sundays, February 1 - 23, 2025
South Coast Botanic Garden invites guests to celebrate the Year of the Snake at its annual Lunar New Year Celebration, with activities every weekend in February. Live performances take place at 9:30am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm every Saturday and Sunday*, with lion dancers, martial artists, folk dancers and drummers.  READ MORE

Downtown Arcadia Lunar New Year Festival

Arcadia - FREE
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Downtown Arcadia rings in the Lunar New Year with a community celebration. This year, the community comes together to support Arcadia teachers, staff, and families who lost their homes in the recent fires.   The afternoon features a Lion Dance, culinary delights, and cultural performances. READ MORE

Lunar New Year at One Colorado

Pasadena - FREE
Saturday, February 8, 2025
One Colorado celebrates the Year of the Snake. The free Lunar New Year event features live music with traditional instruments, a Year of the Snake Lion and Dragon dance, and a lantern crafting activity.  Guests receive good luck red envelopes. READ MORE

Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival

Alhambra - FREE
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Alhambra's annual festival celebrates the diversity of the SGV region - and Year of the Snake! The immersive all-day festival includes performances, live art, cooking demonstrations, a Kids Zone, artisan vendors and authentic cuisine. READ MORE

Lunar New Year (Santa Monica Place)

Santa Monica - FREE
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Santa Monica Place’s Lunar New Year celebration returns with traditional Chinese lion dance performances, a balloon artist, crafts for kids, and a Chinese dough artist. READ MORE

Lunar New Year (Irvine Spectrum Center)

Irvine - FREE
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Irvine Spectrum Center celebrates Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake with a traditional Lion Dance, martial arts demonstrations, instrumental performances, and more. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at 2nd & PCH

Long Beach - FREE
Saturday, February 15, 2025
2nd & PCH celebrates Lunar New Year with festivities along Seaport Way, including vibrant cultural performances, festive decorations and interactive activities. Starting at 11am, guests can shop the Lunar New Year Dreamers Market, which features a curated selection of artisanal vendors offering unique goods and treats.   The entertainment portion of the event begins at 1pm. READ MORE

OC Lantern Festival 2025

Costa Mesa - FREE
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Pacific Symphony’s annual Lantern Festival celebrates the Year of the Snake. The Lantern Festival marks the return of spring and the reunion of family. The act of lighting and appreciating lanterns is a way for people to let go of the burdens of their old selves and express their best wishes for themselves and their families for the future. The festivities include music and dance performances, lantern decorating, Dragon Dance,  riddles, photo ops and food. READ MORE

POSTPONED Golden Dragon Lunar New Year Parade

Chinatown - FREE
2025 Date TBD
Update: The 2025 Golden Dragon Parade, which had previously been announce for February 8, is now officially POSTPONED.  The new date has not yet been announced. Previously purchased Grandstand tickets will be valid on the new Parade Date when announced READ MORE

POSTPONED Chinatown Firecracker 5K/10K Run and Walk

Chinatown
2025 Date TBD
UPDATE:  The 2025 LA Chinatown Firecracker Run, originally scheduled for February 1 - 2, 2025, has been postponed due to the recent wildfires. New date information to come. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Disney California Adventure Park
Pretend City Children's Museum
San Gabriel Mission District
Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Los Angeles Chinatown Plaza