Celebrate Lunar festival returning to Orlando to usher in the new year
The event showcases Asian culture, tradition, cuisine and arts at Luminary Green Park on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 from 12-9 p.m.
A LOCAL NONPROFIT IS INVITING ALL OF US IN CENTRAL FLORIDA TO USHER IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH A DAY OF CULTURAL TRADITION, AUTHENTIC FOOD, AND JUST SOME FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. CELEBRATE LUNAR IS BACK FOR A FIFTH YEAR AND JOINING US NOW, WE HAVE THE EVENT FOUNDER AND CO-FOUNDER, MAXINE AND DAVID SUDAMA. GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH. GREAT TO BE HERE. THANKS, JASON. OKAY, THE YEAR OF THE HORSE. YOU KNOW, LOTS OF MOMS AND DADS PROBABLY HAVE KIDS AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR AT CHRISTMAS TIME ASKING THEM FOR HORSES IN MY HOUSEHOLD, NOT GOING TO GET A HORSE, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS AS WE CELEBRATE THIS LUNAR NEW YEAR. WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR VIEWERS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CELEBRATION? YEAH, THIS IS OUR FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND WE JUST LOVE BRINGING THE CULTURES TOGETHER WITHIN THE ASIAN CULTURE. SO WE HAVE CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, JAPANESE, KOREAN, CAMBODIAN, LAOS ALL TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY AND A LOT OF TRADITIONAL FOODS AND PERFORMANCES ARE FEATURED AS WELL. OKAY, SO MAXINE, DAVID, YOU GUYS ARE BEHIND A NONPROFIT. AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND SORT OF HOW YOU BRING THIS CELEBRATION TO TO OUR COMMUNITY. YEAH. SO WE DIDN’T START THIS OFF KIND OF WITH THIS IDEA OF BECOMING A NONPROFIT. ACTUALLY, INITIALLY IT WAS JUST OUR DESIRE REALLY FOR OUR KIDS TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE AND OUR CULTURE. AND OVER TIME, IT’S BECOME A A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY STUDENTS AND YOUTH. AND SO WE DECIDED THIS LAST SEPTEMBER TO TURN IT INTO A NONPROFIT CALLED HERITAGE AND HOPE. AND WE’RE FOCUSED ON ASIAN AMERICAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. AND SO WE’VE DECIDED TO TAKE THIS FESTIVAL, PUT IT UNDER THERE. AND SO NOW IT IS A MAIN FUNDRAISER FOR THE NONPROFIT AT THIS POINT. AND LET’S TALK ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW? YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS TIME SO IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE? YEAH, I THINK CULTURALLY, JUST AS A AS A HERITAGE PIECE. RIGHT. KIND OF FROM A LOT OF US ARE COMING FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES, SPECIFICALLY AROUND ASIA. AND THIS IS KIND OF A TIME WHEN WE GATHER AS FAMILIES. THERE’S A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK. THERE’S USUALLY A BIG PERIOD THERE WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS FAMILIES, CELEBRATE, REMEMBER KIND OF OUR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR GRANDPARENTS, GREAT GRANDPARENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT’S JUST REALLY A FAMILY TIME THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE. YEAH. SO IT’S TRADITIONALLY DONE IN THE HOME, BUT THEN THERE’S ALSO A FESTIVAL COMPONENT TO IT AS WELL. AND THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING TO THIS EVENT. OKAY. MENTIONED THE YEAR OF THE HORSE AGAIN TO MY DAUGHTER. WE’RE NOT GETTING A HORSE, BUT THERE WILL BE ONE AT THIS EVENT. YEAH, YEAH. SO WE’LL BE FEATURING FANCY AND SHE’S SHE’S A BIG HORSE. YEAH. SO SO THAT THAT WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT PICTURE UP FOR PEOPLE. YEAH. THAT’S THAT’S AS CLOSE AS WE’RE GETTING TO GETTING ONE. YOU CAN TAKE THE PICTURE HOME. YEAH. AND YOU DID MENTION THERE WILL BE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT FOR YOU ALL THAT YOU ENJOY, YOU’RE CELEBRATING AND SHARING WITH YOUR KIDS AT THE EVENT. YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT I REALLY LIKE TO BRING IS ALSO THE LOCAL RESTAURANT, TEARS AND THE LOCAL ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS THAT ESPECIALLY THAT ARE ASIAN OWNED BUSINESSES AND REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THEM, FEATURE THEM, SHOWCASING THEM INTO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. RIGHT. SO THAT’S WHY WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE LOCAL SHOW UP AND SUPPORT THEM. AND FOR THE KIDS, WE HAVE A HUGE CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL AND GIVEAWAYS, SO IT’LL BE SO FUN. SO JUST JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THERE’S GOING TO BE OVER 45 PERFORMERS THERE. WOW. EVERYBODY FROM KIND OF OUR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO SOME LOCAL COMMUNITY PERFORMERS. SO WE’RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THEY GET TO BE FEATURED. THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PRESENT THEIR TALENTS ON STAGE IN A BIG ENVIRONMENT. I THINK THAT’S ONE. AND THEN ALSO, THERE’LL BE OVER 100 VENDORS THERE, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. MAXINE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT WHO WILL BE THERE AS WELL. YEAH, OKAY. I MEAN, GIVE US MAYBE ONE HIGHLIGHT HERE, AND I WANT TO HIT ON ONE LAST THING BEFORE WE HAVE TO RUN. ONE OF THE VENDORS THAT MAYBE YOU’RE EXCITED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE. OH GOSH, THAT’S A HARD ONE. YOU SAID ART. SO WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SOME GOODS FOR SALE. YES. SO LOCAL ARTISTS, WATERCOLOR PAINTING AND THERE’S A 3D WOOD PAINTING AS WELL THAT’S GOING TO BE PAINTED LIVE ON SITE. OH THAT’S AWESOME. YEAH, IT’S FUN TO SEE. AND THIS AS WE WRAP IT UP, IS NOT JUST FOR SOMEBODY TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE ASIAN CULTURE. THIS IS FOR OUR WHOLE ENTIRE CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOR SURE. FOR SURE. YEAH. SO I THINK WE WANT IT TO BE VERY APPROACHABLE, VERY INVITATIONAL. IT’LL BE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. AND SO REALLY WHAT WE’VE SEEN IS IT’S A UNIQUE EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER NOT JUST ACROSS ASIAN CULTURE. TYPICALLY YOU HAVE KIND OF A LITTLE BIT MORE INDIVIDUAL CELEBRATIONS, BUT WE’RE ACTUALLY BRINGING ALL OF THE ASIAN CULTURES TOGETHER AND IT’S VERY INVITATIONAL. WE SEE EVERYBODY FROM DIFFERENT ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS COMING. THEY’RE NOT JUST ASIAN CULTURE, LATINO CULTURE, BLACK AMERICAN CULTURE IS ALL COMING THERE TO ENJOY AND PARTICIPATE IN ONE ANOTHER’S KIND OF EXCHANGE OF CULTURE THERE. LOVE THAT. YEAH. BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER. AND WE’VE GOT INFORMATION ON THE TICKETS AND EVERYTHING ABOUT CELEBRATE LUNAR. IT’S ALL ON WESH.COM. MAXINE. DAVID, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING FOR HAVING US SO MUCH.
Celebrate Lunar festival returning to Orlando to usher in the new year
The event showcases Asian culture, tradition, cuisine and arts at Luminary Green Park on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 from 12-9 p.m.
Updated: 9:43 AM EST Jan 23, 2026
The Celebrate Lunar festival is returning to Orlando for its fifth anniversary. The event showcases Asian culture, tradition, cuisine and arts at Luminary Green Park in Orlando’s Creative Village on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 12-9 p.m.The festival is hosted by Heritage and Hope Inc., a nonprofit with a mission to empower the next generation of Asian-American youth in Greater Orlando to thrive with confidence in their identity, leadership skills and community support. The event founder and co-founder, Maxine and David Sudarma, join WESH 2 to preview the event aiming to unify cultures, families and community members as they usher in the Lunar New Year.Dress Code: Festive attire, including the colors red and gold are encouraged to help to celebrate Lunar New Year. Venue: Luminary Green Park | 437 North Terry Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The Celebrate Lunar festival is returning to Orlando for its fifth anniversary.
The event showcases Asian culture, tradition, cuisine and arts at Luminary Green Park in Orlando’s Creative Village on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 12-9 p.m.
The festival is hosted by Heritage and Hope Inc., a nonprofit with a mission to empower the next generation of Asian-American youth in Greater Orlando to thrive with confidence in their identity, leadership skills and community support.
The event founder and co-founder, Maxine and David Sudarma, join WESH 2 to preview the event aiming to unify cultures, families and community members as they usher in the Lunar New Year.
Dress Code: Festive attire, including the colors red and gold are encouraged to help to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Venue: Luminary Green Park | 437 North Terry Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801