What is SD Lunar New Year Festival?
SD Lunar New Year Festival is a 3-day celebration of the most important holiday in many Asian cultures. The festival will include folk and traditional performances, arts and cultural exhibitions, lion dances and firecrackers, and plenty of family fun activities for the kids. More importantly, the festival is inclusive and free.
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Lion & Dragon Dances
Lion and dragon dances will be performed every day. Below are fixed schedules; however, Lion Dance groups will be present and will perform throughout the day unscheduled.
Bun Bo Hue Eating Contest
Think you can handle the heat? The Bún Bò Huế Eating Contest will test your spice tolerance with one of Vietnam’s most flavorful, bold, and spicy noodle soups. Grab your chopsticks and join the fun!
3-meter Lotus Flowers
This year, there will be at least 20 of the 3 meter (not sure if tall or wide) lotus flowers. They will be pink and red. Come to find out with us!
Wall of Lanterns
Beyond the awesome display of lanterns, this year, there will be a wall of lanterns to spell out the word "be kind." The wall of lanterns estimated to be 12 feet tall and 60 feet long with nearly 800 lanterns.
Exhibition of Vintage Vehicles use in Vietnam
Featuring: many type of vintage vehicles once roaming the streets of South Vietnam in '60s and '70s
Photo Opportunity
Don’t miss the photo opportunity at the San Diego Lunar New Year Festival! Snap a picture with 10 decorative backgrounds and other stunning cultural displays. Perfect for capturing memories with family and friends while celebrating the spirit of the Lunar New Year!
Boba Drinking Contest
How fast can you gulp down 1 gallon of boba milk tea?
Dumpling Wrapping Contest
per Youtube there are at least 24 ways to wrap dumplings. How would you wrap your dumpling?
Join the contest -- the fastest will win!
Also, you can take your dumpling home too.
Year of the Fire Horse
The Year of the Fire Horse burns with passion, courage, and unyielding spirit. Those born under its flame are known for their independence, creativity, and drive to break boundaries. The Fire Horse gallops freely — bold yet unpredictable — symbolizing a year of transformation, risk, and renewal. It reminds us that true progress requires both the fire to act and the wisdom to guide that fire with compassion and purpose.
Did you know: this was our original logo 12 years ago. We’ve come full zodiac circle — countless memories!
2025 - the Year of Kindness
For years, we believed that it is wise to cover our eyes and ears to see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. But if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Evil still exists even if we turn off our TV and do not follow the newsfeed. More importantly, evil can be conditioned, and so can love and kindness. If we spread kindness, start with ourselves by being kind with the words we take in (hear), the words we speak out, and be kind in our thoughts and through our actions, then a community filled with lovingkindness and harmony will not be far. The kindness seed has always been present within our hearts—let's be kind!
SD LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL