We’ve put collectively a number of enjoyable San Diego Lunar New Yr occasions value attending for many who need to have fun the Yr of the Snake.
Lunar New Yr (or Chinese language New Yr in case you are of Chinese language heritage) is a crucial vacation in lots of Asian cultures. It’s celebrated in China, Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Singapore, and Tibet and by many emigrants from all around the world from these Southeast Asian international locations.
This 12 months, the celebration falls on January 29, 2025, in keeping with the lunisolar calendar. In accordance with Chinese language astrology, kids born within the Yr of the Snake are clever, intuitive, and naturally charming.
A Private Connection to the Lunar New Yr
Lunar New Yr holds particular which means in our residence. My daughter was born in Hong Kong through the Yr of the Golden Pig. It’s by far an important cultural celebration, lasting 15 days and crammed with household gatherings, conventional performances, and scrumptious feasts.
It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and creating joyful reminiscences.
Should-See Lunar New Yr Occasions in San Diego
From energetic lion dances to cultural exhibitions and hands-on crafts, San Diego affords quite a few methods to embrace the spirit of the Lunar New Yr.
Whether or not you’re going solo or exploring household enjoyable actions whereas celebrating the Chinese language New Yr, there’s one thing for everybody to take pleasure in. Right here’s your final information.
1. Lion Dances and Gala at Jasmine Seafood
The favored Cantonese restaurant additionally has a number of days the place diners can take pleasure in lion dances throughout dim sum lunch and dinner service. We’ve been, and it’s fairly enjoyable. Nonetheless, food and drinks service is stopped through the dances, so simply be ready for that. Folks additionally introduced pink envelopes to present to the dancers.
The 2025 Lunar New Yr Charity Gala will increase cash for SoCal wildlife hearth aid efforts and different group initiatives of Lions Membership Worldwide Basis. It’s an 8-course dinner with life performances, alternative drawing, and a silent public sale.
- Dates & Occasions: Sunday, February 2 from 5-8:30 p.m.
- Worth: $65/individual or $600 for a desk of 10.
The restaurant may also host Fortunate Lion Dances carried out by varied native teams. I’ve been to one in all these dinners and it’s fairly enjoyable. The dates are:
- Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 1 at 10:30 a.m. and seven p.m.
- Sunday, February 2 at 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, February 8 at 10:30 a.m.
- Sunday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m.
Go to Jasmine Seafood on-line for extra info.
2. Annual San Diego Chinese language New Yr Meals and Cultural Truthful
Have fun Lunar New Yr on the annual San Diego Chinese language New Yr Truthful, hosted by the Chinese language Consolidated Benevolent Affiliation. This family-friendly occasion is held in Downtown San Diego’s historic Chinatown at Third Avenue and J Avenue.
Guests can take pleasure in a weekend of cultural festivities, together with dwell music, conventional performances, scrumptious meals, and actions for all ages. Highlights embody a vibrant lantern parade, distinctive handicrafts, and interesting kids’s crafts.
- Dates: February 8–9, 2025
- Occasions: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Location: Third Avenue & J Avenue
- Admission: Free
Mark your calendar for this vibrant celebration of tradition and group!
3. Annual San Diego Tet Pageant
Have fun the Yr of the Wooden Snake on the San Diego Tết Pageant, that includes competitions just like the Miss Vietnam San Diego pageant, Dance Battle, and Child’s Highlight Expertise Contest.
Get pleasure from dwell music, lion dances, Taiko drum performances, carnival rides, a cultural village, and a petting zoo. Vietnamese meals and conventional shows add to the festive environment.
Expertise Vietnamese tradition with lion dances, carnival rides, a cultural village, and dwell music competitions.
- Dates: January 31–February 2, 2025
- Occasions:
- Friday: 5–10 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Location: NTC Park, Liberty Station
- Admission: Free
You may go to sdtet.com for extra particulars.
4. Home of China’s Chinese language New Yr Dinner & Truthful
Have fun the Yr of the Snake with the Home of China, a part of the Home of Pacific Relations Worldwide Cottages in Balboa Park. This festive season consists of a sublime banquet and a energetic cultural competition crammed with performances, meals, and enjoyable.
Chinese language New Yr Banquet
Kick off the Lunar New Yr with a proper dinner that includes dwell leisure, together with lion dances and a raffle. Proceeds profit the Home of China and the Chinese language College of San Diego.
- Date: January 25, 2025
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Diamond Palace
3993 54th St, San Diego, CA - Price: $100 per individual or $1,000 for a desk of 10
- Apparel: Asian apparel inspired
- Particulars: Go to houseofchinasd.com
Chinese language New Yr Pageant
Proceed the celebration with a free, family-friendly cultural competition that includes lion dances, Chinese language ethnic meals, crafts, calligraphy, and performances.
- Dates: February 15–16, 2025
- Occasions: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Location: Worldwide Cottages, Balboa Park
2191 Pan American Rd W, San Diego, CA - Admission: Free
- Particulars: Go to chinesenewyearfair.com
Don’t miss these thrilling occasions crammed with custom, tradition, and leisure!
5. San Diego Lunar New Yr Pageant
The place else in San Diego in February can you discover dragons, lion dances, firecrackers, dwell music and performances, arts and crafts, and extra?
On the San Diego Lunar New Yr Pageant, after all. Have fun the Yr of the Snake with a vibrant three-day occasion crammed with cultural traditions, performances, and family-friendly actions.
Occasion Highlights:
- Cultural Village: Expertise the standard way of life of Southeast Asian villagers.
- Performances & Actions: Get pleasure from folks and conventional performances, arts and crafts, video games, and jumpers for youths.
Occasion Particulars:
- Dates: January 24–26, 2025 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- Location: Officer J. Henwood Memorial Park, 4455 Wightman St, San Diego, CA 92105
- Admission: Free
Don’t miss this inclusive celebration crammed with cultural traditions, leisure, and actions for all ages! For instructions and particulars, go to the competition web site.
6. Lunar New Yr on the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcome the entire household to have fun the nice fortune of the brand new lunar 12 months on the zoo. Tackle crafts, interact wildlife care specialists, take pleasure in Flavors of Asia, or take a behind-the-scenes tour to study iconic species just like the snow leopard and different unimaginable wildlife.
A go to to the San Diego Zoo can also be an funding in future generations. Your go to helps groundbreaking conservation efforts for endangered wildlife worldwide, reminiscent of orangutan households, and combats unlawful trafficking of orchids and different endangered wildlife.
- Dates & Occasions: February 1-2.
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7. SeaWorld San Diego Lunar New Yr
The 2-weekend celebration consists of cultural performances at Wild Arctic Plaza and festive Asian-inspired meals like pork stomach bao, chow mein, beef bulgogi, wonton soup, brick toast, and extra.
- Dates: February 1-2 and February 8-9
- Price: Included with admission (festive meals and beverage further)
SeaWorld San Diego Low cost Tickets
These are actually good offers on tickets:
- Single Day Ticket + Free Meal
- Single Day
- Single Day + Free All Day Eating
- 2-Day
- SeaWorld and Sesame Place 2 Park Ticket
8. Library Lunar New Yr Celebrations
Native libraries throughout San Diego host thrilling Lunar New Yr occasions for all ages. Listed here are some celebrations and actions you may be a part of:
- Del Mar Library: Lunar New Yr Scavenger Hunt. Discover 9 Lunar New Yr symbols and win a prize! January 2–31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Carmel Valley Library: Lunar New Yr Celebration. Craft stations and a Chinese language dance efficiency. Saturday, January 25, 12–1:30 p.m.
- Balboa Library: Lunar New Yr Lion Dance by San Diego Legendary Lion Dance Affiliation. Saturday, January 25, 1–1:30 p.m.
- Linda Vista Library: Lunar New Yr Lion Dance. Saturday, January 25, 4–4:30 p.m.
- Carmel Mountain Ranch Library: Nature Storytime – Lunar New Yr Tales About Snakes. Wednesday, January 29, 10–10:30 a.m.
- Central Library: Teen Middle Lunar New Yr Celebration. Crafts, meals, and enjoyable for ages 12–18. Wednesday, January 29, 4–5 p.m.
Test the Metropolis of San Diego Library Occasion Web page and the San Diego County Library Occasion web page for much more occasions.
9. Eating places to Have fun the Lunar New Yr
Why not take pleasure in a scrumptious Asian meal in celebration of the Lunar New Yr? Other than Jasmine Seafood talked about above, listed here are a couple of San Diego eating places to contemplate.
- Emerald Chinese language Delicacies: They often have particular Chinese language New Yr menus for a la carte ordering or set menus for teams. And let’s not neglect the karaoke room you may reserve for a small group.
- Haidilao San Diego: Head to Haidilao, a well-known Chinese language sizzling pot restaurant from Sichuan province. Final 12 months, through the Chinese language New Yr, performers (like conventional face-changing performers) handed out lai see to company.
- Golden Island Dim Sum: This Mira Mesa hotspot can also be in style for Chinese language New Yr in San Diego as they usually have lion dances.
10. Have fun Chinese language New Yr on Your Personal at House
Chinese language New Yr is a crucial vacation in our home. Actually, I’m headed to 99 Ranch for our traditional stash of sweet and dried fruit, a part of a conventional eight-part Tray of Togetherness to snack from all through the season (I’ll share particulars for what to incorporate shortly). You may also have fun at residence with crafts.
You may also use the chance to depart bowls of citrus on the desk for the household to eat and even put Chinese language New Yr citrus timber on either side of the doorstep.
It’s additionally enjoyable to place collectively Chinese language New Yr pink envelopes for the children in your life. You may order pink envelopes on Amazon or discover them at markets like 99 Ranch.
Kung Hei Fats Choy!
How do you have fun Lunar New Yr in San Diego? If there are actions that I’ve missed, please depart them within the feedback.