Celebrating Tết and Lunar New Year in Orange County: Community, Culture and New Traditions in 2026
- Ivy Dai
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
From Tết parades to lantern festivals, here’s how Orange County welcomes the Year of the Horse.
As winter turns to warmer weather and families prepare to welcome the Year of the Horse, communities across Orange County are gearing up for a vibrant season of Lunar New Year and Tết celebrations.
The Horse in the Chinese zodiac represents energy and forward momentum – qualities many hope will define the year ahead. Lunar New Year traditions across Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities focus on renewal, prosperity and family unity. Elders give red envelopes for good luck, lanterns are lit for hope, and lion and dragon dances chase away bad luck and invite prosperity for the months ahead. Sharing meals with loved ones, cleaning homes before New Year’s Day and honoring ancestors are also longstanding traditions.
Falling on Tuesday, Feb. 17 this year, most Lunar New Year festivities will kick off the weekend prior and after. A rich array of iconic festivals and new community gatherings will ring in 2026 with fireworks, lion dances and community parades. There is something for everyone – whether you’ve been celebrating for years or are joining for the very first time.
UVSA Tết Festival (44th Annual)
When: 4-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15
Where: Golden West College, 15744 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach
Admission: $10 (tickets available online or at the door); free for kids 2 and under
Info: tetfestival.org
Pro tip: Wear traditional attire on Saturday, Feb. 14 (noon–1 p.m.) for free admission during this hour
One of the largest Vietnamese New Year festivals in the nation, the UVSA Tết Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors annually and has become a landmark Orange County tradition.
Founded in 1982, the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations spearheads this decades-old celebration complete with its own beauty pageant and replica of a traditional Vietnamese village.
The UVSA Tết Festival has been on the move in recent years. Two years ago, it was held at the OC Fairgrounds, its home for more than a decade. Last year, the festival moved to Garden Grove Park on Westminster Boulevard in Garden Grove. This year, it's at a new venue, Golden West College in Huntington Beach.
Visitors can enjoy traditional Vietnamese food, cultural exhibits, performances and kids’ activities across three days of celebration. This multi-day festival blends traditional and contemporary celebrations of Tết, offering a cultural village full of hands-on exhibits and dynamic entertainment.
In addition to dragon dances, live music and fashion showcases, visitors can check out food vendors serving authentic Vietnamese dishes from bánh mì to che desserts. There will be themed zones to explore Vietnamese heritage and history as well as pageant contests, games and cultural performances highlighting student and community talent.
Ceremonial dragons and drums at the Westminster Tết Parade in 2025. Photos courtesy of the city of Westminster
Westminster Tết Parade
When: Saturday, Feb. 21. Duration: 2-2.5 hours. 8:30 a.m. Opening ceremony starts with lion dances and firecrackers 9:30 a.m. Parade procession begins
Where: Parade begins at the intersection of Bolsa Avenue and Magnolia Street in Westminster. Route is starts eastbound on Bolsa Avenue, will turn right on Bushard Street, ending at Bishop Place.
Admission: Free; $25 grandstand seating available for purchase
For more than two decades, the Westminster Tết Parade has celebrated the Lunar New Year and the vibrant Vietnamese American community that calls Little Saigon home. This grandiose procession features an impressive showcase of ornate floats and marching bands amid lion and dragon dance troupes. Many visitors travel from out of state to view the parade, mingling with local residents, community organizations and elected officials.
Presented by the city of Westminster for the fourth year running, this year's parade theme is Spring and Unity. There are over 70 entries this year, including the Warner Middle School Vietnamese American Cultural Club performing in the opening ceremony, McGarvin Middle School and several equestrian entries.
“The year of the horse – it’s a symbol of strength, freedom and perseverance,” said Gina Nunes, community services and recreation supervisor for Westminster. “This year’s theme sets a focus for the community and the year to come.”
Planning the parade is a yearlong process and will draw about 20,000 visitors across the nation this month. Thousands line the streets each year – go early to secure the best viewing spots and photos. If you make it in person, the city’s YouTube channel will stream it live; the parade will also stream on PCTA (public access television), with a reach of about 250,000 viewers.
As in prior years, the purpose is not only to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but to celebrate the Vietnamese American community of Orange County centered in Little Saigon. Vietnamese Americans living in Westminster and surrounding cities are the largest community of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam. Many were forced to flee their country as a result of the communist takeover during the Vietnam War.
PHOTO 1: Traditional Chinese instruments are featured in the Lunar New Year performance. A past performance featured Bei Bei Monter performing the guzheng. PHOTO 2: The young musicians of the Orange County Music and Dance Violin Studio of Wendy Castille take a bow with former Music Director Carl St.Clair (now laureate). PHOTO 3-4: Young dancers from the Yaya Dance Academy perform during Pacific Symphony’s Lunar New Year concert. Photos courtesy of Pacific Symphony/Doug Gifford
Pacific Symphony's 10th Annual Lunar New Year Concert
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21
Where: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Admission: $64-$141
Information: (714) 755-5799; pacificsymphony.org
Pacific Symphony’s annual Lunar New Year concert offers a dynamic blend of both Eastern and Western traditions through dance, vocal and instrumental music. The concert brings together more than 200 community performers and highly acclaimed guest artists in performance with the orchestra, led by Music Director Laureate Carl St.Clair.
The evening will be hosted by emcees Ron Banks and Cao Keran and will feature a wide range of guest artists, dancers and choirs performing alongside Pacific Symphony this year.
“Each year, our Lunar New Year celebration offers a special opportunity to showcase remarkable artists and to honor culture in a way that feels both festive and meaningful,” St.Clair said in a statement. “We’re honored to highlight the vibrant traditions of pan-Asian music and dance through an exciting lineup of exceptional performers from both near and far – a vision inspired and made possible by the dedication of our board member, Charlie Zhang.”
The 2026 program spans centuries and continents, beginning with Huanzhi Li’s “Spring Festival Overture” and continuing through works by Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Orff and Samuel Ward, alongside traditional and contemporary pieces rooted in Asian musical traditions. Pianist Xiangdong Kong will perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, while featured soloists will include jinghu player Shunxiang Zhang and Pacific Symphony Concertmaster Dennis Kim on violin.
Dance will play a central role throughout the evening, with performances by Yaya Dance Academy under the direction of Yaya Zhang and the T.O.P. Awards Dancers. The concert will also highlight the talents of young musicians and singers, including the Orange County Music and Dance Violin Studio of Wendy Castille and the American Feel Young Chorus, directed by Sam Wei-Chi Sun. Pacific Chorale, led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, is featured on several major works on the program, culminating in selections from “Carmina Burana” and a closing performance of “America the Beautiful.”
LUNAR NEW YEAR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS
For the second year in a row, there will be no Lunar New Year celebration at Miles Square Park in Fountain Valley due to lack of funds since former Supervisor Andrew Do resigned from office.
Other smaller, eclectic celebrations have sprung up in its place for 2026:
Asian Garden FLOWER FESTIVAL
When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Jan. 29 - Feb. 15
Where: Asian Garden Mall, 9200 Bolsa Ave., Westminster
Information: asiangardenmall.com
Daily flower festival and food vendors 6-10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday evenings
LUNAR NEW YEAR FIRECRACKER SHOW
When: Noon Feb. 17
Where: Asian Garden Mall, 9200 Bolsa Ave., Westminster
Information: asiangardenmall.com
There will be music, firecrackers and a lion dance. Bolsa entrance will be closed for the event; enter parking from Moran Street or Bishop Street.
ASCEND ORANGE COUNTY LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
When: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 26
Where: EY Irvine Office - Outside Courtyard, 18101 Von Karman Ave., Irvine
Information: ascendleadership.org
A newer professional-networking themed public event in Irvine supports cultural appreciation and community connection with performances, food and a traditional lion dance. Admission $10-$20 for members, $45 for non-members.
LUNAR NEW YEAR STORYTIME IN ANAHEIM
When: 1-2 p.m. Feb. 15
Where: Anaheim Haskett Branch Public Library, 2650 W. Broadway, Anaheim
Children and families will gather for a themed storytime and performance from the Western High School Lion Dance Team.
LUNAR NEW YEAR IN THE CITY
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15
When: Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble Drive, Irvine
Information: pretendcity.org
Children and families can celebrate the Year of the Horse all day long. The event features a Vietnamese mommy and me language-learning event, a Korean samulnori drum performance, and a traditional lion dance.
THE WISHING WALL AT IRVINE’S WOODBRIDGE VILLAGE CENTER
When: Feb. 17 through March 3
Where: Woodbridge Village Center, 4500-4820 Barranca Parkway, Irvine
Visitors can manifest and display their chosen destiny for the upcoming New Year at the Wishing Wall.
LUNAR NEW YEAR AT DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK
When: Through Feb. 22
Where: Disney California Adventure Park, 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
The Disneyland Resort will showcase Mulan’s Lunar New Year Processions, craft activities based in Asian traditions, and a wishing wall with decorative lanterns.
GOLDEN GATHERING AT THE MARKET PLACE
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 21
Where: The Market Place, 2961 El Camino Real, Tustin
The Market Place and the South Coast Chinese Center have collaborated to put on an event featuring lion dancing, martial arts and other traditional performances. While you’re there, taste authentic Cantonese flavors at the recently opened Palette Dim Sum.
LUNAR NEW YEAR NIGHT MARKET IN IRVINE
When: 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 22
Where: Woodbury Town Center, Irvine Boulevard, Irvine
Woodbury Town Center will be transformed into a sea of culinary and cultural delights, as visitors will be able to taste delicious food from more than 20 culinary booths, listen to K-Pop DJs, and watch a drone performance illuminate the night.
FIRE HORSE WISHING WORKSHOP AT FASHION ISLAND
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 28
Where: Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
In the Garden of Good Fortune, visitors will be able to watch calligraphy demonstrations from the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, participate in Chinese cultural crafts, and watch a lion dance show.
A FESTIVAL OF TRADITION AT IRVINE SPECTRUM
When: Noon to 4 p.m. March 1
Where: Irvine Spectrum Center, 670 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine
The outdoor shopping destination in collaboration with the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center will showcase more than 15 performances including lion and dragon dances, drum performances, chorale recitals and martial arts demonstrations.
OC Lantern Festival – Marking the First Full Moon and Spring Renewal
When: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. March 7
Where: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Information: pacificsymphony.org
The Lantern Festival is the traditional close of the Lunar New Year period, observed 15 days after New Year’s Day. Lantern festivals have been celebrated for over 2,000 years across Asia, symbolizing the return of spring, family reunions and hope for the year ahead.
At this free, day-long festival, you can decorate and release your own lantern and enjoy music and dragon dance performances as well as art activities for all ages.
