Its time to ward off the evil spirits surrounding us in 2026. Check out these gatherings to celebrate and be together in community as we all step into the new year.
Deeply rooted across Asian diasporas, Lunar New Year is a time of family, feasts, honoring ancestors, and celebration in community.
Based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, traditions differ from country to country, diaspora to diaspora. In Vietnamese culture, Tết Nguyên Đán is the welcoming of the new year. In Korean culture, Seollal is the “year of age” commemorating the start of the new year.
Here in Washington, we are blessed to have an array of community events of every shape and size celebrating Lunar New Year. There’s something for everyone, from family-friendly performances, street parties for the foodies, and an evening of Asian Drag Artistry & Empowerment for the queens!
February 17 kicks off the Year of the Fire Horse, a combination associated with energy, flamboyance, and transformation. Let’s attack the evil spirits of 2026 together, shall we?
The events are arranged below by date.
Lunar New Year Celebration With the City of Mukilteo & Korean Community Service Center
Rosehill Community Center, Mukilteo
Thursday, February 12 | 5 PM – 8 PM
Sponsored by the Korean Community Service Center, this free, family-friendly Mukilteo community evening event offers a fun evening of performances, food from local restaurants, and tabling from an array of local organizations. Free. Link: https://mukilteowa.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/85
IDCCC Lunar New Year Festival, Seattle Parks & Recreation Department
International District Chinatown Community Center, Seattle
Friday, February 13 | 5 PM – 7 PM
Right in Seattle’s Chinatown International District, attendees will enjoy crafts, food, and performances inside the International District Chinatown Community Center followed by a Lion and Dragon dance. Free. Link: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/seattle/activity/search/detail/79186?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
Tết In Seattle (T-I-S)
Seattle Center, Seattle
Saturday February 14 & Sunday 15 | 11AM – 6PM
One of the largest events, this annual Tết celebration takes place at the Seattle Center on the weekend of February 14 and 15. There’s performances all day long, a fashion show, a kids zone, and not-to-be-missed headline performances by Hồ Lệ Thu (Saturday) and Trúc Linh & Trúc Lam (Sunday). Free. Link: https://www.tetinseattle.org/
Lunar New Year Celebrate Tradition in Motion
Saturday, February 14 | 11 AM – 3 PM
Macy’s Court, Westfield Southcenter Mall, Tukwila
Lion dances, traditional musical performances, Han Dynasty Fashion Show, and more in this dynamic lineup of cultural performances. Free. Link: https://www.westfield.com/en/united-states/southcenter/events/lunar-new-year/134009
Lunar New Year Celebration at the Renton Highlands Library
Saturday, February 14 | 2PM – 4PM
Renton Highlands Library, Renton
Celebrating the Year of the Horse with performances, games, and giveaways at the Renton Highlands Library. Featuring performances from the Hua Yin Dance Performing Arts Group and NW Korean Art Center. Free. Link: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/695d71ee491b809c6f114c9e
University Of Washington Seattle’s Chinese Student Association 59th Lunar Gala
Sunday, Feb 15 | 5:30 PM – 9 PM
Kane Hall, UW Seattle Campus
Join in the Lunar Gala on UW Seattle’s campus. The night is filled with skits and performances, traditional music, and lots of games and raffle opportunities all organized by UW Seattle’s Chinese Student Association. Free. Link: https://www.csauw.com/copy-of-heycsa
Tết Nguyên Đán – Vietnamese New Year
Vietnamese Cultural Center, Delridge West Seattle
Saturday, February 21 | 12 PM – 2 PM
Tucked away in forested West Seattle, the Vietnamese Cultural Temple is welcomes all to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a ceremony, performances, lion dancers, and their annual flag raising ceremony. Free. Link: https://vietnameseculturalctr.squarespace.com/events/tet-vietnamese-new-year-6s245
Lunar New Year Family Festival
Seattle Asian Art Museum, Capitol Hill, Seattle
Saturday, February 21 | 11 AM – 2 PM
Enjoy lively performances, music, and much more at Seattle’s Asian Art Museum. Museum ticket required. Link: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/events/lunar-new-year-family-festival-feb-21
Lunar New Year Community Celebration
Burien Community Center
Saturday, February 21 | 10 AM – 2 PM
Join in a lively morning at the community room of the Burien Community Center! Featuring lion dances, games, cultural activities, and much more. Link: https://www.discoverburien.org/calendar/2026/lunar-new-year
Seattle Rise Collective’s Lunar New Year Festival
Saturday, February 21 | 12 PM – 6 PM
Washington Hall, Seattle, WA
Looking for Lunar New Year gifts and merch? Over 40 Asian-owned small businesses will be vendors at this community event at Washington Hall, along with performances on stage, gift raffles, and much more.
Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-rise-collectives-lunar-new-year-festival-tickets-1980913299002
Follow Seattle Rise Collective on Instagram at @seattlerisecollective for more information and updates.
Lunar New Year Celebration at The Village at Totem Lake
Saturday, February 21 | 1 PM – 4 PM
The Village at Totem Lake, 12600 120th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98034
This free to attend celebration includes:
• Traditional Lion Dance by Mak Fai
• Martial Arts Demo
• Crafts and Cultural Activities
• Wheel of Lunar Luck: Spin the prize wheel to win a red envelope filled with something from one of The Village’s many retailers and restaurants.
• Village-wide Scavenger Hunt: Take a stroll around The Village and find 12 Lunar-themed decals hiding amongst the various stores and restaurants.
Link: https://thevillageattotemlake.
Lincoln District Lunar New Year Festival
Downtown Tacoma, historic Lincoln District
Sunday Feb 22 | 11 AM – 3 PM
South Sound’s largest Lunar New Year celebration, the Lincoln District Lunar New Year Festival features street performances, firecrackers, food trucks, kids activities, and much more. Free. Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lincoln-district-lunar-new-year-festival-tickets-1975379515306
Healthcare For All Lunar New Year Luncheon with ICHS
Thursday, February 26 | 11 AM – 1 PM
Embassy Suites, Pioneer Square, Seattle
International Community Health Services (ICHS) is a community health center serving Seattle’s diverse communities. Guests will join to celebrate lunar new year and support ICHS’ mission of delivering health services to ICHS patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Ticketed event. Link: https://www.ichs.com/healthcare-for-all-benefit
Kin On’s Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 28 | 10AM
Kin On Community Center, Columbia City, Seattle
Family friendly event held at Kin On Seattle Community Center, featuring karaoke, music, games, and food. Free. Link: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/qoyiny/event/2kolnycc/
SCIDPDA’s Lunar New Year Event
Saturday February 28 | 1PM – 3PM
Donnie Chin Children’s Park, CID
Outdoor family friendly event in the Donnie Chin International Children’s park. Attendees will enjoy family art activities and community tabling.
Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s Annual New Year Celebration
Sat February 28 | 11AM – 6PM
Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall, Tacoma
With a focus on the Cambodia, this free family event features live entertainent from across Asia. Link: https://www.asiapacificculturalcenter.org/newyearcelebration
Newcastle’s Lunar New Year Celebration 2026
Sunday, March 1 | 1 PM – 4 PM
Risdon Middle School, Newcastle
Held at Risdon Middle School, attendees will enjoy family-friendly demonstrations of dance, music, crafts, games, and even traditional snacks. Link: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/6973d8046724c63d00edf154
CIDBIA’s Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday March 7 | 11AM – 5PM
Chinatown-International District
Annual Food Walk and performances on stage at the Hing Hay Park. The largest Lunar New Year Celebration in Seattle is happening on March 7, centered around Hing Hay Park. Link: https://www.seattlechinatownid.com/experiences/lunar-new-year
Chinese New Year Lantern Celebration
Saturday March 7 | 11AM – 4PM
Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle College
Head to the Seattle Chinese Garden for a Chinese New Year event to celebrate 元宵节 (Yuan xiao jie) or the Lantern Festival, which marks one full lunar month after the New Year! Enjoy an exciting day of all-ages activities like Chinese knot-tying, Chinese calligraphy and crafts as well as tea tasting! There will also be an exciting performance line-up featuring musical performance, taichi, martial arts, and more! Link: https://www.seattlechinesegarden.org/events/chinese-new-year-lantern-festival-celebration
If you would like to add your event to this calendar, please email [email protected]!
Theodore Kenzo Dante Bickel is a Seattle-based photographer who has contributed to the International Examiner since 2024. He uses visual storytelling to showcase the vitality of the Chinatown-International District and contemporary Asian American communities in Seattle. He is Shin-Nikkei Japanese American. Born in Portland, Oregon, he grew up in the wilds of southwest Washington state. Theo, or “Tay-o” as his friends call him, found himself putting down roots in the C-ID shortly after arriving in Seattle in 2013. He has spent over a decade working in C-ID community non-profits in development, community engagement, civil rights advocacy, and communications. Theo was one of seven Seattle-based Asian American photographers that published the photography exhibit “Through the Eyes of a Tiger” in May 2023. The photo exhibit blended holistic, not homogenous, views of the C-ID in a critical time of regrowth and development.
