2018 Lunar New Year Events in San Diego
An always up-to-date list of Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year events in San Diego.
San Diego is home to several significant Lunar New Year events that are worth attending for those who would like to celebrate Year of the Dog.
Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year if you are of Chinese heritage) is celebrated in China, Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Singapore, Tibet and by the many emigrants all over the world from these countries. The date is based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which this year is February 16, 2018.
The holiday is incredibly important in our home as my daughter is proud to have been born in Hong Kong. It is by far the most important celebration in China, lasting 15 days, though typically only three are public holidays.
Without further ado, here is a list of Lunar New Year events in San Diego.
Table of Contents
Jasmine Seafood’s Lunar New Year Charity Gala
Jasmine Seafood’s Lunar New Year Charity Gala is a multi-cultural event that will feature Chinese “firecrackers,” lucky lion dancers, 8-course Lunar New Year banquet dinner, live entertainment, and silent auction and opportunity drawings.
- Sunday, March 4
- 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m., Registration & Networking for Success; 6:30p.m.–8:30 p.m., Dinner & Celebration
- Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
- $50 per person /$500 per table with priority seating
Proceeds will support the education of underprivileged children in San Diego and in the remote villages of China and Vietnam and additional San Diego United Lions Club charitable projects.
Lion Dances at Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
In addition to the gala above, Jasmine Seafood Restaurant will host lion dances for guest entertainment in the dining hall. The lion dances will happen:
- Friday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 17 at 10:30 a.m and 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 18 at 10:30 a.m and 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 25 at 10:30 a.m.
Food service stops during the 10–15-minute performances so be sure to order plenty of dim sum and other delicious dishes from the carts before the show starts. Bring lai see (traditional red envelopes with dollar bills inside) for good luck and to support the student lion troupe and their organization.
Annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair
The annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair hosted by the San Diego Chinese Center spans two days and includes a children’s craft area where they’ll have the opportunity to make lanterns before the dragon parade. Attendees can shop for Chinese handicrafts, eat tons of traditional food and enjoy live entertainment ranging from acrobats to traditional Chinese music performances. It’s a very well-done event that we enjoy every year.
- Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25
- 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., rain or shine
- Third Avenue and J Street
- Free admission
Lunar New Year Tết Festival at Qualcomm
Presented by the Little Saigon San Diego Foundation, the Lunar New Year Tet Festival will feature lion dances throughout the day, carnival rides, lots and lots of Asian food, martial arts, a pageant contest, an Asian cultural village, a doggie costume contest, and much more. The fact that it’s at SDCCU (Qualcomm) Stadium should give you an idea regarding the festival’s massive size and offerings.
- Friday, February 9–Sunday, February 11
- Friday from 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
- SDCCU Stadium
- Ticket prices: $3–$5 for entry plus additional costs for food, drink and carnival rides. Parking is free. Free entry for children under the age of 2, everyone born in Year of the Dog, and military members wearing a “complete” military uniform.
Annual San Diego Tết Festival
This annual Tết festival will host several competitions including a Miss Vietnam pageant, a pho eating contest, a Golden Voice competition and the opportunity for kids to share their knowledge about Vietnamese culture. Guests can also look forward to a variety of Vietnamese food, carnival rides and games, firecrackers, dog costume contest, and lion dances.
- Friday, February 16–Sunday, February 18
- Friday from 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
- Mira Mesa Community Park
- Free to enter
Lunar New Year at SeaWorld San Diego
Celebrate Lunar New Year at SeaWorld San Diego with an incredible Chinese acrobat show,
amazing local cultural performances, and mouthwatering culinary delights. Celebrating the Year of the Dog in2018, SeaWorld will present a Puppy Garden where guests can cuddle with adorable dogs while learning more about adopting animals from local shelters.
- Select dates between February 10 – February 25
- Check the calendar for event times
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Free with admission
See also: How to Buy Discounted Tickets to SeaWorld San Diego
Lunar New Year at the La Jolla Library
Come to the La Jolla Library to learn about the Chinese zodiac and see a lion dance performed by the GDPT Chanh Kien group.
- Friday, February 16
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- La Jolla/Riford Library
- Free
How do you celebrate Lunar New Year in San Diego? If there are activities that I’ve missed, please leave them in the comments. Kung Hei Fat Choi!
2 Comments
If you want to build a deeper understanding of Chinese New Year traditions, the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is offering several exciting exhibits that are fun and informative for the whole family. In the Sun Yat-Sen Extension building, Chris Lowe has installed an exhibit about how to build and refurbish the lion heads used in the traditional New Year’s lion dance. You can see the lions dancing during the Chinese New Year Festival on the street outside, then step inside and see how the costumes are made. The exhibit also includes exquisite hand-painted paper cut-outs of festive New Year designs and traditional Chinese New Year Prints. In the Chuang Archive and Learning Center, you can say goodbye to the Year of the Horse with Jack Liang’s Spirit of the Celestial Horse: Forging Chinese Painting into a New Frontier, an exhibit that puts a new twist on traditional Chinese painting. All of these exhibits are on display now until the end of February and are included in the museum’s regular $2 admission, free for children 12 and under.
Thanks so much for letting me know! Sounds like a great event. I’ll add it to the list above.