Lunar New Year is a traditional celebration found worldwide and is honored here in Los Angeles by locals and Angelenos of East Asian descent across the city. This 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom and intuition. With that significance in mind, you can expect incredible festivities, delicious food, and cultural appreciation in honor of Lunar New Year in Los Angeles. Read on for some inspiration to make the most of the holiday.
1. 126th annual Chinese New Year festival in Chinatown
One of L.A.’s oldest traditions, Chinatown’s annual Chinese New Year Festival returns and will be honoring the year of the snake with an incredible Golden Dragon Parade on February 8, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m. Get the full info here!
🐉 When: February 8, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m.
📍 Location: Chinatown, Starting at Broadway and ending at Hill St
2. Lunar New Year Festival at Monterey Park
On January 18 and 19, 2025 — Monterey Park is putting together an incredible Lunar New Year festival featuring local vendors offering unique gifts and specialty items, food booths with various types of delectable items, amusement rides, and lots of live cultural entertainment. Get the full info here.
🐉 When: January 18-19, 2025
📍 Location: Garvey Avenue on Monterey Park
3. Lunar New Year Celebration at South Coast Botanic Garden
The South Coast Botanic Garden is bringing back its Lunar New Year Celebration all through February. You can expect a weekend full of incredible demonstrations and storytelling. Their event will include Chinese zodiac scroll making, paper lantern decorating, Chinese paper cutting, Chinese game booths, and Chinese calligraphy. All activities are included in a general admission pass, more info here!
🐉 When: Every weekend through February
📍 Location: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
4. Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival & Farmers Market
On February 8, 2025, the City of Alhambra is hosting their annual Lunar New Year Festival with the Alhambra Farmers Market featuring food, live performances, family-friendly activities, and more. More info here!
🐉 When: February 8, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
📍Location: The festival will take place along Alhambra’s Main Street. Get the map here.
5. Lunar New Year at USC’s Pacific Asia Museum
USC’s annual Lunar New Year festival is back, and they’re welcoming Angelenos on campus to celebrate with a day full of performances and activities. Expect a traditional lion dance, cultural storytelling, calligraphy, and crafts. Feast on items from food trucks and enjoy free admission to the museum. More info here!
🐉 When: February 1, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
📍Location: USC Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, California 9110
6. Enjoy a flavorful dim sum spread from one of these Chinese restaurants
Los Angeles is home to some seriously delicious Dim Sum — and what better way to celebrate Lunar New Year and Chinese culture than with food? 🥟 Check out some of our favorites below!
- Ocean Island Restaurant
- ixlb DimSum Eats
- Din Tai Fung
- See a full list of our favorite Chinese restaurants here.
7. Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington
The Huntington hosts their beloved Lunar New Year Festival in the Chinese Garden and other spaces. This is a popular family-friendly event featuring a mask-changing artist, martial arts performances, lion dancers, arts and craft demos, and more.
🐉 When: Feb. 1-2, 2025 (All visitors must have reservations, including those who plan to redeem guest passes)
📍Location: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
8. LA Zoo and Lunar New Year
The Los Angeles Zoo often highlights Lunar New Year through live performances. This year’s event will include Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese dance performances by Asian Arts Talents, a “Zoo-diac tour” where you can see all the animals of the Chinese zodiac, education stations, and the chance to add your hopes for the New Year to the Wall of Well Wishes.
🐉 When: Feb. 1-2, 2025 from 10am-4pm
📍Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
9. Citadel Outlets
The Citadel Outlets are known for throwing the ultimate Lunar New Year Celebration in Los Angeles. Guests are welcome to watch their exciting lion dances taking place throughout the center and in Center Court. You can also drop by their Customer Service booth to pick up a free red envelope.
🐉 When: Feb. 1-2, 2025 (Red Envelope Giveaway is from Jan. 13-Feb. 9)
📍Location: 100 Citadel Drive Los Angeles, CA 90040
10. Sprinkles Cupcakes
Sprinkles Cupcakes is making this Lunar New Year extra sweet with their themed cupcakes in honor of the holiday. Last year, the cupcake featured Sprinkles’ iconic red velvet cake swirled with almond slivers on an almond cookie crust, topped with a delicious almond cream cheese frosting and a custom Bruce Lee Dragon topper. Grab your cupcake here!
🐉 When: TBA
📍 Location: Find your closest Sprinkles location here.
11. The Americana at Brand
The Americana at Brand celebrates Lunar New Year with a parade of lion and dragon dances along with other festive performances. Guests are also welcome to ring in the Year of the Dragon through their dazzling décor and exclusive store promotions. Stay tuned as we await details for 2025.
🐉 When: TBA
📍 Location: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
Edited by Jamie Ferrell