AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is gearing up to celebrate the Lunar New Year in bold fashion as Kaiju Cut and Sew and Austin Beerworks team up for their 5th Annual Lunar New Year celebration. This year, the community will shed the Year of the Snake and gallop into the Year of the Horse with a vibrant, culture-filled event.

Chris Gomez, owner and founder of Kaiju Cut and Sew, and Will Golden, founder of Austin Beerworks, joined Sierra Waggoner to chat about how their collaboration continues to bring culture, creativity, and community together for Austin’s Lunar New Year celebration.

{p}Chris Gomez, owner and founder of Kaiju Cut and Sew, and Will Golden, founder of Austin Beerworks, joined Sierra Waggoner to chat about how their collaboration continues to bring culture, creativity, and community together for Austin’s Lunar New Year celebration.{/p}

Chris Gomez, owner and founder of Kaiju Cut and Sew, and Will Golden, founder of Austin Beerworks, joined Sierra Waggoner to chat about how their collaboration continues to bring culture, creativity, and community together for Austin’s Lunar New Year celebration.

Gomez shared how the tradition first began. “This is our fifth annual Lunar New Year celebration, and it really started as a way to bring together our community and celebrate culture through local art, fashion, and food,” Gomez said.

The Year of the Horse symbolizes energy, passion, and forward momentum — themes that will be reflected throughout the celebration. Guests can expect exclusive merchandise, festive experiences, and a lively atmosphere that blends tradition with Austin’s creative spirit.

“So you can expect a fun-filled day for the community. Starts at 11 to Lion Dance Performances Summit at 12 and two. We added a second one because each year the event has just grown exponentially bigger. So we decided like, let’s put in the most popular thing, let’s put in another lion dance performance.

{p}Gomez also shared insight on the significance of this year’s celebration. “So the Year of the Fire Horse, basically it only happens once every six years. So 1966 was the last time I was here. The Fire Horse, the Year of the Fire Horse is basically the year of big change, big transformation, really fast moving change. So you kind of expect something like that when it comes to that particular year,” Gomez said.{/p}

Gomez also shared insight on the significance of this year’s celebration. “So the Year of the Fire Horse, basically it only happens once every six years. So 1966 was the last time I was here. The Fire Horse, the Year of the Fire Horse is basically the year of big change, big transformation, really fast moving change. So you kind of expect something like that when it comes to that particular year,” Gomez said.

So you’re going to have a vendor market, all Asian-owned businesses, a lot of food pop ups, DJ playing and then my mahjong clubs are going to have a mahjong room set up as well,” Gomez said.

{p}The collaboration has become an annual staple, bringing together culture, craft beer, and community. “It's been really rewarding to see this event grow each year, and we love celebrating our community in such a fun and unique way,” Golden said.{/p}

The collaboration has become an annual staple, bringing together culture, craft beer, and community. “It’s been really rewarding to see this event grow each year, and we love celebrating our community in such a fun and unique way,” Golden said.

Gomez emphasized the family-friendly and community-centered nature of the event. “It's a family-friendly event. It's for the community. So growing up, I didn't really have a chance to celebrate Lunar New Year outside of my household. And then when I moved here in Austin, very, very long ago, Lunar New Year was really only celebrated at, like, the Asian market. So being able to bring this to an awesome brewery like Austin Beerworks and see the community come out more each year — I mean, I've had people tell us throughout the year, 'I'm looking forward to next year,' or 'we missed it last year, but we already put it on the calendar for next year.' So everything just kind of comes into fruition, like this culmination of everything that we've worked on for the entire year. And then the day of the event, just seeing family, friends, aunties, grandmas and grandpas just come out and celebrate the event,” Gomez said.

Gomez emphasized the family-friendly and community-centered nature of the event. “It’s a family-friendly event. It’s for the community. So growing up, I didn’t really have a chance to celebrate Lunar New Year outside of my household. And then when I moved here in Austin, very, very long ago, Lunar New Year was really only celebrated at, like, the Asian market. So being able to bring this to an awesome brewery like Austin Beerworks and see the community come out more each year — I mean, I’ve had people tell us throughout the year, ‘I’m looking forward to next year,’ or ‘we missed it last year, but we already put it on the calendar for next year.’ So everything just kind of comes into fruition, like this culmination of everything that we’ve worked on for the entire year. And then the day of the event, just seeing family, friends, aunties, grandmas and grandpas just come out and celebrate the event,” Gomez said.

Gomez also shared insight on the significance of this year’s celebration. “So the Year of the Fire Horse, basically it only happens once every six years. So 1966 was the last time I was here. The Fire Horse, the Year of the Fire Horse is basically the year of big change, big transformation, really fast moving change. So you kind of expect something like that when it comes to that particular year,” Gomez said.

Golden also highlighted the importance of bringing Lunar New Year celebrations into the public eye. “And to me, one of those things to touch on is, the Lunar New Year was almost kind of hidden away into people's houses and wasn't celebrated very openly in America. And I just love the fact that we allow people to celebrate in a public forum and bring that culture out because it's so vibrant and so amazing that everybody should experience it,” Golden said.

Golden also highlighted the importance of bringing Lunar New Year celebrations into the public eye. “And to me, one of those things to touch on is, the Lunar New Year was almost kind of hidden away into people’s houses and wasn’t celebrated very openly in America. And I just love the fact that we allow people to celebrate in a public forum and bring that culture out because it’s so vibrant and so amazing that everybody should experience it,” Golden said.

Gomez emphasized the family-friendly and community-centered nature of the event. “It’s a family-friendly event. It’s for the community. So growing up, I didn’t really have a chance to celebrate Lunar New Year outside of my household. And then when I moved here in Austin, very, very long ago, Lunar New Year was really only celebrated at, like, the Asian market. So being able to bring this to an awesome brewery like Austin Beerworks and see the community come out more each year — I mean, I’ve had people tell us throughout the year, ‘I’m looking forward to next year,’ or ‘we missed it last year, but we already put it on the calendar for next year.’ So everything just kind of comes into fruition, like this culmination of everything that we’ve worked on for the entire year. And then the day of the event, just seeing family, friends, aunties, grandmas and grandpas just come out and celebrate the event,” Gomez said.

{p}Gomez emphasized the family-friendly and community-centered nature of the event. “It's a family-friendly event. It's for the community. So growing up, I didn't really have a chance to celebrate Lunar New Year outside of my household. And then when I moved here in Austin, very, very long ago, Lunar New Year was really only celebrated at, like, the Asian market. So being able to bring this to an awesome brewery like Austin Beerworks and see the community come out more each year — I mean, I've had people tell us throughout the year, 'I'm looking forward to next year,' or 'we missed it last year, but we already put it on the calendar for next year.' So everything just kind of comes into fruition, like this culmination of everything that we've worked on for the entire year. And then the day of the event, just seeing family, friends, aunties, grandmas and grandpas just come out and celebrate the event,” Gomez said.{/p}

Gomez emphasized the family-friendly and community-centered nature of the event. “It’s a family-friendly event. It’s for the community. So growing up, I didn’t really have a chance to celebrate Lunar New Year outside of my household. And then when I moved here in Austin, very, very long ago, Lunar New Year was really only celebrated at, like, the Asian market. So being able to bring this to an awesome brewery like Austin Beerworks and see the community come out more each year — I mean, I’ve had people tell us throughout the year, ‘I’m looking forward to next year,’ or ‘we missed it last year, but we already put it on the calendar for next year.’ So everything just kind of comes into fruition, like this culmination of everything that we’ve worked on for the entire year. And then the day of the event, just seeing family, friends, aunties, grandmas and grandpas just come out and celebrate the event,” Gomez said.

Golden also highlighted the importance of bringing Lunar New Year celebrations into the public eye. “And to me, one of those things to touch on is, the Lunar New Year was almost kind of hidden away into people’s houses and wasn’t celebrated very openly in America. And I just love the fact that we allow people to celebrate in a public forum and bring that culture out because it’s so vibrant and so amazing that everybody should experience it,” Golden said.

Austin Beerworks is unveiling a special Lunar New Year brew titled Fire and Vitality. Golden explained the inspiration behind the name and design. “So we work very closely with designer named Bobby Dixon, who actually named the beer this year. And he, we try and stick with the convention of these powerful two words that kind of describe the year that we’re going into. And, we were kind of struggling with it. And then he popped out Fire and Vitality. And he also does the design work. So it just really organically came together this year and it’s probably one of the most beautiful years I think. So it’s been really fun. And then the beer itself is a really cool beer utilizing two different teas, mango yuzu. And we put Chinese five spice in it this year. So it’s kind of a really special beer that’s wholly unique from any other year that we were,” Golden said.

Austin Beerworks is unveiling a special Lunar New Year brew titled Fire and Vitality. Golden explained the inspiration behind the name and design. “So we work very closely with designer named Bobby Dixon, who actually named the beer this year. And he, we try and stick with the convention of these powerful two words that kind of describe the year that we're going into. And, we were kind of struggling with it. And then he popped out Fire and Vitality. And he also does the design work. So it just really organically came together this year and it's probably one of the most beautiful years I think. So it's been really fun. And then the beer itself is a really cool beer utilizing two different teas, mango yuzu. And we put Chinese five spice in it this year. So it's kind of a really special beer that's wholly unique from any other year that we were,” Golden said.

Austin Beerworks is unveiling a special Lunar New Year brew titled Fire and Vitality. Golden explained the inspiration behind the name and design. “So we work very closely with designer named Bobby Dixon, who actually named the beer this year. And he, we try and stick with the convention of these powerful two words that kind of describe the year that we’re going into. And, we were kind of struggling with it. And then he popped out Fire and Vitality. And he also does the design work. So it just really organically came together this year and it’s probably one of the most beautiful years I think. So it’s been really fun. And then the beer itself is a really cool beer utilizing two different teas, mango yuzu. And we put Chinese five spice in it this year. So it’s kind of a really special beer that’s wholly unique from any other year that we were,” Golden said.

The collaboration has become an annual staple, bringing together culture, craft beer, and community. “It’s been really rewarding to see this event grow each year, and we love celebrating our community in such a fun and unique way,” Golden said.

In addition to the celebration, Gomez is expanding community offerings with a Mahjong room in partnership with Mahjong Mafia. “We’re excited to add the Mahjong room this year so attendees can engage with culture in a playful and interactive way,” Gomez said.

For more information, visit austinbeerworks.com or find out more about Kaiju Cut and Sew at kaijucutandsew.com

For more information, visit austinbeerworks.com or find out more about Kaiju Cut and Sew at kaijucutandsew.com

For more information, visit austinbeerworks.com or find out more about Kaiju Cut and Sew at kaijucutandsew.com