How You Can Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Orange County

On February 1, 2022, the Year of the Tiger will officially begin. If you are a fan of Chinese culture or you hail from Chinese heritage yourself and you are looking for the latest Orange County events revolving around it – look no further! There are plenty of thrilling events you can look forward to this year.

Why Does the Date for the Lunar New Year Change Every Year?

We celebrate the restarting of the Gregorian calendar every year on January 1, but the Lunar Calendar works differently. It is based on the monthly cycles of the moon phases, which do not have a fixed date.

Fun Activities and Events

Disney’s California Adventure Park (January 21 – February 13, 2022)

You can catch this fun-filled festival at Paradise Gardens Park at Disney’s California Adventure, adjacent to the original Disneyland Park. This 3-week long festival also celebrates Korean and Vietnamese culture. Go ahead and purchase the 2022 Lunar New Year Sip and Savor Pass, where you can enjoy authentic Asian cuisine with your favorite Disney characters representing the diversity of Asian culture including Mulan, Raya, and everyone’s favorite dragon companion, Mushu.

Cerritos Towne Center (January 29, 2022, 12 PM – 2 PM)

Bring your kids to enjoy free fun arts and crafts, balloon art, and a traditional Chinese Lion Dance performance. You also will want to check out the Lucky Red Envelope giveaway.

Irvine Spectrum Center (February 1, 2022, 12 PM – 2 PM)

On the day of the Lunar New Year, you can come down to the Giant Wheel Court located at the Irvine Spectrum Center. You can have fun doing arts and crafts projects to celebrate the Year of the Tiger as well as fortune cookies and lucky red envelopes. You can also get some unbeatable deals from shops and restaurants at the Spectrum Center that you won’t want to miss out on!

Neiman Marcus Mariposa Café (February 1, 2022) 

Neiman Marcus on Fashion Island in Newport Beach will be holding a Lunar New Year luxe lunch event, presented by the Inside Edge Foundation. If you’re a lover of all things food, you will certainly love trying out all the traditional cuisines as well as the desserts at this event, free of admission.

Segerstrom Concert Center Hall (February 5, 2022, 8 PM)

Calling all music lovers! Pacific Symphony will be holding their annual Lunar New Year concert featuring music and dances from both the East and the West, including I Love China and America the Beautiful to celebrate an ethnic exchange and friendship between the two cultures.

DIY Celebrations

There are also plenty of ways you can celebrate the Lunar New Year at home. You can wear your favorite red clothing for the day, try cooking your own noodles at home, which is a tradition believed to help you live longer, or donate to a local Chinese community center in support of your neighbors who provide these cultural Orange County events, including OCAPICA. You may also choose to contribute to a national campaign that promotes equality for Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

新年快乐 (Xin nian kuai le!)

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