For the first time in 60 years, the Lunar Year belongs to the fire horse, and neighborhoods throughout Oakland have already begun the celebrations. The Lunar New Year, which marks the first new moon of the lunar year, began on Feb. 17, and the festivities culminate with a Lantern Festival on March 3. The Chinese calendar cycles through 12 animals as well as five traditional Chinese elements: earth, wood, fire, metal, and water.

Oakland will be home to a variety of Lunar New Year celebrations between now and early March, from a procession with a lion dance and drummers to bless businesses in Laurel, to the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade, and a Khmer new year’s street festival at Peralta Hacienda. 

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Are there any other Lunar New Year events in Oakland we missed? Please email me at azucena@oaklandside.org. You can also use the self-submission form on our events page to add it to our calendar for free.

25th annual Lunar New Year festival at OMCA

The Oakland Museum of California has been uplifting Asian and Pacific Islandercommunities across the Bay Area for the past 25 years. This year’s festivities in the museum’s garden include a lion dance by LionDanceME, Filipino folk dances, lofi-hyphy sounds by Oakland artist Seiji Oda, and a closing performance by a dragon dance team from UC Berkeley’s Vietnamese Student Association, to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year. Advanced tickets are sold out.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a limited number of day-of free tickets will be available on-site, 1000 Oak St.

Lunar New Year at Jack London Square

Against the backdrop of Jack London’s waterfront, this event will feature lion dancers; martial arts performances; craft activities for children, who can create their own cherry blossom trees; and giveaways.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., free, no RSVP needed, plaza near Plank, 98 Broadway

Laurel Lunar Year

Sifu Shane Lacey of the Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Academy of Fremont will lead a procession with lion dancers and drummers to bring luck to businesses along MacArthur Boulevard from 35th Avenue to High Street, starting at Farmer Joe’s at the corner of 35th Avenue. Following the procession, there will be a potluck-style gathering at the Taoist Center at 3824 MacArthur Blvd. Admission to the community celebration is a donation of a nonperishable food item or a cash donation to the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m., donation based, Farmer Joe’s parking lot, 3501 MacArthur Blvd.

The Lantern Festival takes place every year in the heart of Oakland Chinatown. Credit: Joyce Xi
Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade

This year’s popular celebration in Oakland’s Chinatown includes live music by the Cantonese cover band Midnight Vanette, a special appearance by Mark Pelli from the Canadian reggae-fusion band Magic!, lion dances, 40 local vendors, and a designated area for adults to purchase alcoholic beverages. The event will help support small businesses in the neighborhood. The parade route starts at Wilma Chan Park and proceeds along 9th and 10th streets. 
Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m., free, Wilma Chan Park, 810 Jackson St.

4th annual Lantern Festival in Chinatown

This year’s event includes family-friendly arts and crafts, community healing activities, local vendors, a night market featuring over 20 makers, and performances by the Khmer Amathak Dance Troupe, Megan Lowe Dances, the HUA twins (a duo comprised of performance artist missTANGQ and multi-instrumentalist musician Jyun Jyun), and others. This is a masked event; masks will be provided at the entrance.
Sunday, March 1, 3 to 8 p.m., free, Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 388 9th St. 

Khmer new year street festival at Peralta Hacienda

For the past 14 years, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park in Fruitvale has been transformed into a venue for an intergenerational celebration honoring Khmer traditions, resilience, and community pride. The festival keeps the local Khmer community connected to their heritage through food, music, and dance performances. The festival will kick off with a special blessing by a monk.
Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave.

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