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We’ve put collectively a choice of enjoyable San Diego Lunar New Yr occasions value attending for many who wish to have a good time the Yr of the Dragon.

Lunar New Yr (or Chinese language New Yr if you’re of Chinese language heritage) is a vacation acknowledged in China, Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Singapore, and Tibet and by many emigrants from everywhere in the world from these Southeast Asian nations.

The date is predicated on the lunisolar calendar, which is February 10, 2024, and people born on this zodiac 12 months are stated to be good, naturally fortunate, and assured.

The vacation is extremely vital in our dwelling as my daughter is proud to have been born in Hong Kong through the Yr of the Golden Pig. It’s by far a very powerful celebration there, lasting 15 days, although usually solely three of these days are public holidays. Throughout that point, the entire household usually gathers collectively to have a good time the lunar new 12 months with occasions like conventional performances and different enjoyable actions.

With out additional ado, here’s a checklist of Lunar New Yr San Diego occasions — prepare to find enjoyable actions you gained’t need to miss.

Lunar New Yr Charity Gala at Jasmine Seafood

The San Diego United Lions Membership’s Lunar New Yr Charity Gala is an annual occasion that many in San Diego stay up for. Proceeds help the San Diego United Lions Membership charitable initiatives worldwide. 

Friday, February 2, 2024
Completely happy Hour: 5 p.m.-6 p.m.; Program 6 p.m. and Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Purchase Tickets: $65 or $600 (Desk of 10)

The favored dim sum restaurant additionally normally hosts lion dances all through the month, that are enjoyable for households. We deliver lai see (conventional crimson envelopes with greenback payments inside) for good luck and to help the coed lion troupe and their group.

Lion Dances 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. Nevertheless, through the dances, food and drinks service is stopped, so simply be ready for that.

Dates and instances for 2024 are TBD.

Annual San Diego Chinese language New Yr Meals and Cultural Truthful

The annual San Diego Chinese language New Yr Truthful hosted by the Chinese language Consolidated Benevolent Affiliation spans two days. It’s held on Third Avenue and J Road in downtown San Diego’s previous Chinatown.

Attendees store handicrafts, eat tons of conventional meals and luxuriate in dwell leisure starting from acrobats to conventional Chinese language music performances. You’ll even be handled to a lantern parade and youngsters’s crafts.

Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 25
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday
Free to enter

Annual San Diego Tet Competition

This annual Tet competition hosts a number of competitions, together with a Miss Vietnam San Diego pageant, a pho consuming contest, a Step Up Dance competitors, and children’ alternative to share their data about Vietnamese tradition.

Company may stay up for Vietnamese meals, carnival rides and video games, firecrackers, a children’ artwork contest, Taiko drum performances, and lion dances. The placement is Mira Mesa Neighborhood Park.

February 16-18, 2024
5-10 p.m. (Friday), 11 a.m.–10 p.m. (Saturday) and 11 a.m.–6 or 9 p.m. (Sunday)
sdtet.com
Free to look at

Home of China’s Chinese language New Yr Competition & Dinner

Be a part of Home of China, a part of the Home of Pacific Relations Worldwide Cottages in Balboa Park, for a Chinese language New Yr celebration full with dancing lions, Chinese language performances, Chinese language meals, crafts, calligraphy, and extra.

They’ll additionally host a separate Chinese language New Yr dinner at Jasmine Seafood with dwell leisure reminiscent of lion dances and a drawing. Proceeds profit the Home of China and the Chinese language College of San Diego.

San Diego Lunar New Yr Competition

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 Competition, after all. This free and family-friendly occasion placed on by the Little Saigon Basis of San Diego is again this 12 months at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park, and they’re prepared to herald the lunar new 12 months with fashion.

February 9–11, 2024 
5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday, February ninth; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, February tenth; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, February eleventh

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 a good time the great 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 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.

I’ve tons of recommendation on shopping for low cost San Diego Zoo tickets and low cost San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets, however the quickest method is to make use of my promo code.

Storytellers of San Diego: “Yr of the Dragon”

Head over to the San Diego Chinese language Historic Museum to listen to storytellers Jim Dieckmann, Aunt Li-Anne, and Mindy Donner share tales of dragons and different attention-grabbing historic narratives, together with the fishing traditions that introduced many Chinese language to San Diego. Acceptable for all ages.

January 27, 2024
2–3 p.m
Free for museum members, visitors with bought museum admission, and youngsters below 12.

Library Lunar New Yr Celebrations

Many native libraries have their very own lunar celebrations for the entire household. Some examples embrace (there are such a lot of extra):

Poway Library: Yr of the Dragon celebration with cultural performances, crafts, and balloon animals. Sunday, February 18, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Del Mar Library: A efficiency by CK Lion Dancers. Friday, February 9, 11:30 a.m.– 12 p.m.
San Marcos Library: Lunar New Yr craft for households. Tuesday, February 6, 5–6 p.m.
Carmel Valley Library: Lunar New Yr celebration with crafts, refreshments, and a lion dance efficiency. Saturday, February 3, 2024.
Level Loma/Hervey Library: Get pleasure from a studying of “Bringing within the New Yr” by Grace Lin and “Lanterns and Firecrackers” by Jonny Zucker, plus a craft afterward. All geared towards ages 3–5. Thursday, February 8, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

For much more choices, test the Metropolis of San Diego Library Occasion Web page and the San Diego County Library Occasion web page.

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? Listed here are a couple of San Diego eating places to contemplate other than Jasmine Seafood already talked about above.

Emerald Chinese language Delicacies: They normally 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’ll be able to reserve for a small group.
Haidilao San Diego: Head to Haidilao, a well-known Chinese language scorching pot restaurant from Sichuan province. Final 12 months once we went throughout Chinese language New Yr, performers (like conventional face altering) have been handing out lai see to visitors.
Golden Island Dim Sum: This Mira Mesa hotspot can be standard for Chinese language New Yr in San Diego as they usually have lion dances.

Have fun Chinese language New Yr on Your Personal at Residence

Chinese language New Yr is a vital vacation in our home. In truth, I’m headed to 99 Ranch for our ordinary 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 a good time at dwelling with crafts. Along with the sources supplied within the hyperlink to the Japanese Friendship Backyard above, I’ve simple directions for how one can make a paper lantern and an inventory of free Chinese language New Yr printables.

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 bushes on all sides of the doorstep.

It’s additionally enjoyable to place collectively Chinese language New Yr crimson envelopes for the children in your life. You possibly can order crimson envelopes on Amazon or discover them at markets like 99 Ranch.

Kung Hei Fats Choy!

How do you have a good time Lunar New Yr in San Diego? If there are actions that I’ve missed, please depart them within the feedback.