Lunar New Year is a traditional celebration found worldwide and is honored here at home by locals and Angelenos of East Asian descent across the city. This 2023 marks the Year of the Rabbit, which symbolizes longevity, peace, and prosperity. With that significance in mind, you can expect incredible festivities, delicious food, cultural appreciation, and so much more.
1. 124th 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 rabbit with an incredible Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday, January 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. Get the full info here!
📍 Location: Chinatown, Starting at Broadway and ending at Hill St
2. South Coast Botanic Garden
The South Coast Botanic Garden is putting together their first-of-its-kind Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29. 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!
📍 Location: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
3. Sprinkles Cupcakes
Sprinkles Cupcakes is making this Lunar New Year extra sweet with their Gold Bunny almond cupcakes! You can even make them extra special and ordering it wrapped up their celebratory red box bundle. For the closest Sprinkles near you, check out their map here!
📍 Location: Find your closest Sprinkles location here.
4. The Americana at Brand
The Americana at Brand is celebrating Lunar New Year from January 17 until 31, and they’re welcoming guests to ring in the Year of the Rabbit through their dazzling décor, special festivities, and exclusive store promotions that carry the storied meaning, traditions and symbolism behind the celebration. You can even pick up a traditional lucky red envelope at Caruso Concierge to receive exclusive offers from some of their stores and restaurants, which may contain a lucky surprise. Don’t miss out their New Year parade featuring traditional lion and dragon performances on January 29 from 2 to 5 p.m.! Get the full info here.
📍 Location: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
5. Monterey Park (Canceled)
On Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22 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.
📍 Location: 1588 Corporate Center Drive Monterey Park, CA 91754
6. Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica Place will be celebrating the year of the rabbit on Saturday, January 28, and with cultural performances for guests to enjoy under the red and gold strung lanterns from 2 to 5:00 p.m. There will also be on-site balloon and dough artists, guests will also be able to hang their wishes for prosperity on their beautiful cherry blossom Wishing Tree. More details here!
📍 Location: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
7. 9th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival
9th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival returns on Saturday, January 21 from 3 to 7:00 p.m. This celebration will feature lion dancers, arts & crafts, delicious food, live music, and more. Entry is free. Get more info here!
8. Dim Sum From One Of these L.A. Restaurants
Los Angeles is home to some seriously delicious Dim Sum. 🥟 Check out some of our favorites below!
9. The Crème Shop’s Lunar New Year Night Market
The Lunar New Year Night Market is hosted and created by K-Beauty Brand, The Crème Shop. Open to the public on Friday, January 20 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, you can shop their new Lunar New Year Hello Kitty & Friends Collection, get exclusive merch, meet Hello Kitty & Friends, games, win freebies, food, + more! General Admission is $5, you can grab tickets here.
📍Location: 1323 N Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028
10. Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival & Farmers Market
On Sunday, January 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for 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!
📍Location: The festival will take place along Alhambra’s Main Street. Get the map here.
11. Lunar New Year Celebration at USC
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 for the whole family! Enjoy a traditional lion dance, storytelling, calligraphy and crafts, food trucks, free admission to the museum, and a final chance to view the special exhibition, After Modernism: Through the Lens of Wayne Thom. More info here!
📍Location: USC Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, California 91101
12. The Huntington
The Huntington is hosting their beloved Chinese New Year Festival on Saturday and Sunday, February 4 and 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families can enjoy lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, music, art and craft demonstrations, and more. The festivities will take place in and around the Chinese Garden and other performance spaces.Full admission details here!
📍Location: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
13. LA Zoo Lights and Lunar New Year
The Los Angeles Zoo is highlighting Lunar New Year through their L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow event on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, from January 20 through January 22. The Zoo will be putting together special activities like their glow-in-the-dark dragon dance parade, lion dance show, kung fu showcase and acrobatics, fan dancers, calligraphy, a Wall of Well Wishes, food trucks, and more. Find ticket information here!
📍Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
14. Citadel Outlets (Canceled)
On Saturday and Sunday, January 21 to 22, the Citadel Outlets is throwing the ultimate Lunar New Year Celebration. Guests are welcome to watch their exciting lion dances traditionally used to bring good luck and fortune, 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 from January 13th to February 13th. More info here!
📍Location: 100 Citadel Drive Los Angeles, CA 90040
15. Farmers Market
On to join them in celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with spectacular lion dances, arts and crafts, balloon twisting and red envelope giveaways. The event will take place on the Plaza from 2 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 04. More info here!
📍Location: 6333 W. 3rd St. Los Angeles
16. Wanderlust Creamery
Just in time for Lunar New Year, Wanderlust Creamery just dropped their White Rabbit Ice Cream Bars, inspired by Year of The Rabbit. They’re now available in all 6 locations, and at Smorgasburg this Sunday, January 21. Heads up, there is limited quantities, so act fast!
📍 Smorgasburg, 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
📍 Find a Wanderlust Creamery here.
See more: 8 Unmissable Exhibitions To Catch In Los Angeles Right Now