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Tet and Lunar New Year Festivals Bring Different Orange County Communities Together

Writer's picture: Kristina M. GarciaKristina M. Garcia

The Year of the Snake symbolizes growth, wisdom and transformation. Here are some details on the major gatherings in O.C.

Santa Ana's Tết Festival wants to "showcase how beautiful the Asian culture is," said Tina Lee, the city of Santa Ana’s Vietnamese community liaison, so the festival includes performances from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese cultures. Photo courtesy of the city of Santa Ana
Santa Ana's Tết Festival wants to "showcase how beautiful the Asian culture is," said Tina Lee, the city of Santa Ana’s Vietnamese community liaison, so the festival includes performances from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese cultures. Photo courtesy of the city of Santa Ana
 

Orange County has a multitude of options for Lunar New Year. But this year is special because not only is it the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes growth, wisdom and transformation, but it is also the 50th anniversary of Black April (Tháng Tư Đen), also known as the Fall of Saigon


While most of these events celebrate Vietnamese Lunar New Year, these celebrations are open for all the different communities that shape Orange County to embrace and learn about a culture they may not be familiar with.


“We hope that we can attract the community members, not just Asians, but everybody, because we want to make this event become a community event to share the new year celebration with everybody,” said Tina Lee, the city of Santa Ana’s Vietnamese community liaison.


Whether you celebrate Lunar New Year every year, or this will be your first time stepping out for the occasion, below are some family-friendly options to consider in Orange County.


Entertainment at the festival includes lion dancing, which is a common cultural practice during Lunar New Year celebrations. Photo courtesy of UVSA Tết Festival
Entertainment at the festival includes lion dancing, which is a common cultural practice during Lunar New Year celebrations. Photo courtesy of UVSA Tết Festival
Union of Vietnamese Student Association's Tết Festival in Garden Grove

Where: Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Blvd., Garden Grove

When: Jan. 31-Feb. 2

Cost: $9 general admission, free for ages 2 years and younger

Contact: 714-576-6411, tetfestival.org


After immigrating from Vietnam, Minh Pham, UVSA Tết Festival marketing and opening ceremony advisor, stood on Tết Festival grounds in Garden Grove and recalls the overwhelming emotions he felt standing in a place that made him feel back at home. 


“I remember that night I (stood) by the stage of the Tết Festival. I was so emotional when I (saw) the singing, all of the celebration, all of the organizing. I remember, I (said) one thing, ‘I wish one day I could be a part of the organizing committee,’” Pham said. 


Then, a year later in 2010, Pham started his role in the festival as marketing staff. 


The last time the event was in Garden Grove was in 2013. Now, the UVSA Tết Festival returns to its roots in Garden Grove Park after spending the past decade at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, according to the website.