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Best Lunar New Year Events in San Francisco for Kids

Celebrate Lunar New Year at one of the largest celebrations outside of Asia.Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade
Celebrate Lunar New Year at one of the largest celebrations outside of Asia.Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade
1/5/25 - By Sandra Lee

Looking for the best Lunar New Year events in San Francisco? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for Lunar New Year 2025. 

Lunar New Year is one of the most vibrant and exciting holidays in San Francisco and the Bay Area. The Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the largest celebrations outside of Asia. The Bay Area comes alive with lion dances, cultural performances, and family-friendly festivities. 

From San Francisco to San Jose, Lunar New Year celebrations offer an enriching experience for kids and families to welcome the new year with joy and good fortune. 

While planning all the Lunar New Year fun, check out the best things to do with kids in Chinatown. We're also adding new Lunar New Year events to our San Francisco calendar each day.  

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Lunar New Year celebrations take place all over the Bay Area. photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of San Jose
Lunar New Year celebrations take place all over the Bay Area. photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of San Jose

Best Lunar New Year Events in San Francisco

Blessings in a Bottle at Union City Library

Union City - FREE
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Join Ms. Cynthia for a creative Lunar New Year Workshop. Discover the zodiac, festive foods, red envelopes, lanterns, and other celebration activities. Children will learn to read key phrases like "Happy New Year," "Gold Ingots," and “Firecrackers" in Chinese, gaining a deeper understanding of these auspicious symbols. Workshop highlights include creating their very own “Lucky Bottle,” writing the character “福” (blessing) with a modern brush pen to add a festive touch.  READ MORE

Lunar New Year at Children's Fairyland

Oakland
Friday - Sunday, January 24 - 26, 2025
Gong Xi Fa Cai! Gong Hey Fat Choy! Children's Fairyland is celebrating Lunar New Year with a lot of fun for families and young kids. See traditional lion and dragon dance performances, engage in arts and crafts, sample sweet treats, and welcome the New Year with fortune-filled fun.   READ MORE

2026 Lunar New Year Celebration at the Children's Museum of Sonoma County

Santa Rosa
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Learn all about Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse at the Children's Museum of Sonoma County. Featuring traditional Chinese dancers, lion and dragon dances with child participation, calligraphy sessions, traditional paper cutting, a storytelling booth, and adventures in the Chinese zodiac. READ MORE

Community Day: Lunar New Year at the San Jose Museum of Art

San Jose - FREE
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Welcome the Year of the Horse with artmaking activities, cultural demonstrations, and live performances. This contemporary celebration honors Lunar New Year traditions commemorated around the globe and in San José.  READ MORE

Flower Market Fair SF Chinatown

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, January 25 & 26, 2025
Fresh flowers, fruits, candies, and home supplies are in abundance at the Chinese New Year Flower Market in San Francisco. Whether it's oranges and tangerines for happiness, flowers for growth and prosperity, or candied coconut for togetherness, you'll find over 120 booths and concessions.  READ MORE

Lunar New Year Calligraphy at the Ferry Building

San Francisco - FREE
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Celebrate the Year of the Snake by watching a calligraphy demonstration and receiving a personalized red paper scroll with Lunar New Year well wishes. Jojo’s Calligraphy will be in front of Delica. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at the Children's Museum of San Jose

San Jose
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Kick off the Year of the Snake at Purple Museum's annual Lunar New Year celebration bringing together Chinese and Vietnamese traditions. Get creative with hands-on activities like making beautiful blossom art, folding your own origami snake, and coloring a colorful lion mask. Enjoy exciting live performances and engaging storytimes. READ MORE

15th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration at Courthouse Square

Redwood City - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Celebrate the new year with lion dancers, martial artists, taiko drummers, and other live performances, for this celebration of the Year of the Horse. Enjoy free admission to the San Mateo County History Museum and find free arts and crafts for kids. READ MORE

Lunar New Year 2026 at Jack London Square

Oakland - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Celebrate the Year of the Horse at Jack London Square with fun for the whole family. Lion dancers, martial arts performances, kids crafts, selfie photo opp, and giveaways. READ MORE

2025 San Carlos Lunar New Year Celebration

San Carlos - FREE
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Head over to Burton Park for a day filled with fun, food, and festivities to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Enjoy a wonderful show and delicious food from Chairman Bao, Saigon Street Food, Respectable Bird, and more. See a lion dance, cultural performances, free giveaways, red envelopes, the Library’s Maker Mobile, books, and more. READ MORE

San Jose Lunar New Year-Tet Festival

San Jose - FREE
Friday - Sunday, February 7 - 9, 2025
Join the community for the largest Vietnamese Lunar New Year-Tet Festival in San Jose. Families can enjoy lucky money and gifts, live entertainment, lion dancers, contests for children and adults, fashion show, magic show, carnival rides, games, exclusive food booths, local vendors, live DJ, and more. READ MORE

San Francisco Symphony Lunar New Year Concert

San Francisco
Saturday, February 8, 2025
The San Francisco Symphony celebrates Lunar New Year with a musical performance for families. Conductor Mei-Ann Chen leads the orchestra through traditional and contemporary music to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Pre-concert lobby festivities include entertainment and activities.  READ MORE

25th Annual Lunar New Year at OMCA: Year of the Horse

Oakland
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Head over to OMCA on Sunday for all the festivities for the Lunar New Year and celebrations for the Year of the Horse. Activities include family-friendly storytelling, hands-on activities for kids like paper lanterns and care cards for the elderly, and performances in music and dance.  READ MORE

Lunar New Year Family Day at Filoli

Woodside
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with your loved ones at Filoli's Lunar New Year-themed Family Day. Enjoy traditional Chinese Lion Dance performances in the Garden and a Lunar New Year story time. READ MORE

Chinese New Year Festival and Parade

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday, February 15, 2025
It's the Year of the Horse and the city of San Francisco is celebrating with a big parade through downtown! Families can see all the floats, entertainment, and more starting on 2nd and Market St. and through Union Square.  READ MORE

Community Street Fair SF Chinatown

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, February 15 & 16, 2025
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of San Francisco’s exhilarating Chinatown during one of the community’s most exciting times of the year. The SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce has activities and entertainment for all ages including Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming and much more at the entertainment stage on Pacific St. below Grant Ave. Make sure to get a family photo with the giant puppets, dragon and other memorable artifacts from the Parade. READ MORE

48th Annual CCHP Lunar New Year - Year of the Horse 5K/10K Run/Walk

San Francisco
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Now in its 48th year, the Chinatown YMCA CCHP Lunar New Year Run gives participants a rare opportunity to run through San Francisco Chinatown’s historic (and slightly hilly) streets, taking in the architecture, scents, and sounds of a bustling and vibrant community. READ MORE

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About the Author

Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee is the community publisher and social media manager for Mommy Poppins Bay Area. With nearly a decade of writing in the parenting space, she’s passionate about helping parents create unforgettable memories with their kids. Her work has appeared in Tiny Beans, Zulily, and more. When she's not exploring or creating content, you’ll find her baking or practicing her hip-hop moves.
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