Photo:
Lunar New Year celebration. Photo: Village at Totem Lake
Happy Lunar New Year! The Year of the Snake slithers in on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and celebrations mark the dawn of the new year with lion dances, delicious food, crafts and more. You won’t have to look far to find an event that suits your crew — festivities are taking place all across our region and lasting throughout February, so your family can celebrate for weeks. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Happy New Year to all!
Celebrate Lunar New Year at The Museum of Flight
Date and time: Weekdays through Jan. 29, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Bring your aviation buffs to The Museum of Flight for its unique take on Lunar New Year. Expect themed crafts and stories celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of Asian and Asian American people to the world of aviation and aerospace. Included with admission.
Lunar New Year Crafts and Story Time at King County Libraries
When: Various dates, Jan. 15–Feb. 8
Listen to Lunar New Year stories, get crafty and learn about Chinese and Vietnamese culture and language at a story time or crafting session taking place at one of many Eastside library branches including Bellevue, Bothell, Renton, Renton Highlands and Sammamish.
Create Your Own Year of the Snake Craft to Hide Around Tacoma
Date and time: Friday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 25, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Inspired by the Monkeyshines scavenger hunt (see below), this workshop at Tacoma Public Library’s Swasey Branch Library invites you to create your own Year of the Snake craft with provided materials to hide around Tacoma.
Lunar New Year Fair With Wing Luke Museum
Date and time: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Join the Wing Luke Museum for its annual celebration to ring in the Year of the Snake! Start outdoors with a free lion dance performance, family art activities, story time and more, then head inside the museum for calligraphy lessons, crafts and exhibits (indoor activities require admission and timed reservation).
Tết Market and Lion Dance in Little Saigon
Date and time: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Catch a lion dance by Mak Fai Kung Fu and shop a vendor marketplace full of themed items at Friends of Little Sài Gòn’s Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration in Seattle.
Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival
Date and time: Sunday, Jan. 19, noon–4 p.m.
Nosh on some traditional Vietnamese food while you enjoy music and cultural performances at this Tết celebration at Tacoma’s Eastside Community Center. Don’t miss the lion dance!
Chinese Lunar New Year at North Bellevue Community Center
Date and time: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m.–noon
Gather at North Bellevue Community Center to usher in good fortune for the year ahead at its Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. Experience cultural music, performances and interactive activities for all ages. Preregister.
Lunar New Year with The Bellevue Collection
Date and time: Decorations and displays on view Jan. 13–Feb. 2; live celebration Saturday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
The Bellevue Collection is known for its impressive annual Lunar New Year celebration. This year, the celebration takes place with a day-long schedule of performances and family-friendly activities, including a dragon and lion parade, dance, music, martial arts demos, and crafts for kids. Lunar New Year displays will be up until Feb. 2.
Tết in Seattle: Vietnamese Lunar New Year
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, Jan. 25–26, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Part of the Seattle Center Festál series, Tết in Seattle is a community celebration of Vietnamese New Year. Join to see how traditions from Vietnam mark the most important festival of the year. There will be lion dances, music performances, local food vendors, art and fashion shows, hands-on kids activities, and a health fair.
Asian Spring Festival Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, Jan. 25; afternoon event, noon–5 p.m.; evening gala, 6:30–9 p.m.
It’s a double dose of Lunar New Year festivities celebrating Chinese culture and traditions at Overlake Christian Church in Redmond. Games, performances and a food court provide an afternoon of family-friendly fun, followed by an evening gala with performances by Chinese artists. Tickets start at $18 with afternoon and evening events sold separately. Ages 3 and younger are free.
Lunar New Year at Pacific Place
Date and time: Saturday, Jan. 25, 3–5 p.m.
All ages are invited to create their own dragon puppets and masks at Pacific Place shopping center in downtown Seattle. Mak Fai Kung Fu Club will also perform an exciting dragon dance.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Kirkland Urban
Date and time: Saturday, Jan. 25, 4–6 p.m.
Drop by the Kirkland Urban Plaza to celebrate Lunar New Year! Enjoy a variety of performances, including a lion dance by Mak Fai Dragon and Lion Dance Association, and Vietnamese fan dancers. Also, make your own lantern, play games and try some traditional treats and more.
Lunar New Year Celebration at Westlake Park
Date and time: Sunday, Jan. 26, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Head to Westlake Park for Lunar New Year festivities including red envelopes, prizes and other goodies. The Mak Fai lion dance takes place at noon, with an additional performance at First Avenue and Pike Street at 1 p.m.
Tacoma’s awesome and mysterious Monkeyshines hunt
When: Around Wednesday, Jan. 29 (typically a week or so before and up to a week after)
Tacoma knows how to have fun with guerilla art, and we’ve already heard: Monkeyshines will be hidden again this year in and around Tacoma. If you don’t live in Tacoma or haven’t heard about Monkeyshines, read up and you might just be tempted to wake up early and get in on the hunt.
Lunar New Year Celebration at Jefferson Community Center
Date and time: Friday, Jan. 31, 5–7 p.m.
Join your friends and neighbors at Seattle’s Jefferson Community Center to celebrate the Year of the Snake with fun activities, crafts and food.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Imagine Children's Museum
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Fun activities are planned throughout the day at Everett’s Imagine Children’s Museum. Collect gold coins and receive a special keepsake! The Reptile Lady will make an appearance at 11 a.m. to present snakes and other reptile friends. Included with admission.
Lunar New Year Family Celebration at SAAM
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Story time, art and a live lion dance are all part of Seattle Asian Art Museum’s annual Lunar New Year event. This year, contribute to a community wood snake sculpture with local artists, Monyee Chau and Jae Eun Kim, that will be displayed in the museum. The outdoor lion dance is free, and all other activities are included with museum admission.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Southcenter
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
A fantastic line-up of entertainment is scheduled at Westfield Southcenter for its Lunar New Year celebration. You can expect a lion dance and other cultural performances, as well as a calligraphy demonstration, storytelling, astrology readings and more.
Edmonds Lunar New Year Community Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.
This community Lunar New Year celebration held at the Edmonds Center for the Arts will include lively performances to help ring in the Year of the Snake including a lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, and breakdancers, Massive Monkees.
Lunar New Year at Marketplace at Factoria
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
It’s Lunar New Year fun for the whole family at Bellevue’s Marketplace at Factoria. Watch a shadow puppet show, lion dance and kung fu showcase, and learn to play Mahjong. Then preserve the memory with a photo taken with the pop-up Lunar New Year display or selfie spots.
City of Sammamish Lunar New Year Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 1–4 p.m.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake and our diverse region with this Eastside community’s Lunar New Year event held at Central Washington University in Sammamish. Watch a variety of live music and dance performances, stop by educational booths and enjoy food truck offerings and activities for kids.
Lunar New Year Celebration at the Village at Totem Lake
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 1–4 p.m.
Head over to the Village at Totem Lake in Kirkland to enjoy cultural performances and a lion dance, make festive crafts and more.
Kirkland Lunar New Year Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2–4 p.m.
Peter Kirk Community Center is the place to learn how Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated through crafts, dance and cultural demonstrations. Plus, enjoy some delicious food!
Mercer Island Lunar New Year Celebration
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Kick off the Year of the Snake at this festive, family-friendly event at the Mercer Island Community Center and Event Center. Kids can make crafts and play games. There will also be traditional performances and a special “community hour” where all are welcome to share their talents.
Lunar New Year in the Lincoln District
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 2, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Follow lion dancers as they weave their way through Tacoma’s Lincoln District, setting off firecrackers. Bring the whole family to this celebration of Asian culture and community and enjoy the pop-up marketplace and delicious eats.
Lantern Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Seattle Chinese Garden welcomes visitors to celebrate the Year of the Snake at its annual Lantern Festival. Bring the whole family to learn more about this holiday and take part in all the fun activities.
PhinneyWood Lunar New Year Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 8, 1 –4 p.m.
Join your North Seattle neighbors at Phinney Neighborhood Center for this free community celebration which includes two lion dance performances, arts and crafts, and lantern decorating ($5).
Newcastle’s Lunar New Year Celebration
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 9, 1–4 p.m.
The City of Newcastle invites the community to Risdon Middle School to ring in the Year of Snake with a lion dance and martial arts demo, drop-in arts and crafts, taiko drum performance and food sampling for all ages.
Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s New Year Celebration
When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Bring the whole family to this annual Lunar New Year celebration organized by the Asia Pacific Cultural Center and held at the Tacoma Dome. Enjoy all kinds of fun cultural arts, live performances, eats and more. This year’s celebration features the customs of the host country, India.
Lunar New Year Gala at UW
When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 5:30–9 p.m.
The University of Washington Chinese Student Association invites the community to attend its annual Lunar New Year gala at Kane Hall. Spend a festive evening celebrating Chinese culture with lively performances, interactive fun and raffle prizes.
Chinatown–International District Lunar New Year Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lunar New Year in Seattle’s Chinatown–International District is the place for food and culture. Expect dancers prancing at Hing Hay Park’s main stage, cultural performances and a food walk serving up delicious eats during this all-day event.
Shorelake Arts Lantern Festival & Lion Dance
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 22, noon–3:30 p.m.
Head to Spartan Recreation Center and make your own paper lantern at this Shoreline community event and celebrate Lunar New Year with a lion dance, kung fu demos, crafts and music. Donations welcome.
Lunar New Year reads for kidsLearn more about Lunar New Year traditions with these stories. 1. “Bringing in the New Year” by Grace Lin: Bright colors and simple text highlight the most important traditions of the New Year. 2. “This Next New Year” by Janet Wong: A young boy celebrates the Lunar New Year with all of his neighbors and friends. The book is cross-culturally inclusive and its message is universal: Everyone has dreams and hopes for a fresh start. 3. “A New Year’s Reunion” by Li-Qiong Yu: The book is set in China, where some parents have to leave their children to work in cities. This story has more words than the other two, as well as a twinge of sadness that you might have to explain to your child. |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published many years ago and was updated most recently in January 2025 by ParentMap's calendar editor, Julie Dodobara, to include this year's Lunar New Year events. JiaYing Grygiel and Devon Hammer contributed to this article.
This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through links on our site, ParentMap may earn an affiliate commission.
