Lunar New Year in the Bay Area is a Family-Friendly Celebration

The Year of the Horse is near! Here are some ideas to help your children celebrate the Lunar New Year and honor the cultures of many local families. There are many kid-friendly celebrations, crafts, books and movies, and yummy food to eat. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

We appreciate the Oakland Museum of California, OMCA, for sponsoring this round-up of family-friendly events to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Don’t miss their annual Lunar New Year event on February 21, where kids 12 and younger receive free admission (advance reservations required).

Featured Lunar New Year Celebration at OMCA, Oakland

On Saturday, February 21, celebrate Lunar New Year traditions through family-friendly storytelling, performances, and activities. Families will also enjoy hand-making crafts, and everyone will love the beloved lion dance. Children 12 and younger receive free admission; $10 for everyone else. Tickets required.
Reserve your spot >

More Bay Area Lunar New Year Celebrations for Families

We tried to list these in chronological order all around the Bay Area because one person’s “worth the drive” is another person’s “10 minutes away”. Have a wonderful and prosperous new year however you celebrate!

More celebrations for the Year of the Horse

The following family-friendly celebrations are longer than a day or further than our typical (510) coverage area. We hope you find them worth the drive and fabulous!

Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar

January 31-Feb. 1, 2026, 10 am – 5 pm
Oakland Chinatown at 9th Street and Franklin
The Lunar New Year Bazaar will have a stage of continuous live entertainment and dozens of vendors to promote Asian culture and local business. This street fair and market includes shopping opportunities for Oakland Chinatown merchandise, smaller handicrafts, and national vendors.
More details >

Lunar New Year Weekend at Fairyland, Oakland

February 7-8, 2026, 10 am – 4 pm
Children’s Fairyland in Oakland
Get an early start to celebrating the Lunar New Year at Fairyland. With special toddler storytime, kids’ lion dance lessons, and sweet treat sampling. Included with paid admission ($17 for kids, $19 per adult, under 1 free).
More details >

Lunar New Year Celebration: Year of the Horse at OMCA, Oakland

Saturday, February 21, 11 am – 4 pm 
OMCA, 1000 Oak St, Oakland
Join OMCA for the 25th annual Lunar New Year Celebration. Gallop into the Year of the Horse with family-friendly storytelling, performances, and activities. Festival access starts at 11 am, and activities and performances begin at noon. Come uplift AAPI communities and explore the shared connections between Asian cultures of the Bay Area. And everyone will love the beloved lion dance! Note that the garden is closed to those without a ticket. Reservations are required: $10 for adult tickets, Children 12 and younger are free.
Reserve your tickets >

Santana Row Lunar New Year Celebration, San Jose

February 21, 2026, 11 am – 1 pm
Santana Row in San Jose
With Lunar New Year festivities for the whole family, expect cultural performances, exciting drumbeats, red envelope surprises, and art-making.
Learn more > 

San Jose Art Museum Community Day: Lunar New Year

Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11 am – 4 pm
San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose
Welcome the Year of the Horse at the San Jose Museum of Art with celebrations throughout the day, including art-making tutorials and kits, cultural performances, and demonstrations for all ages with Lunar New Year traditions around the globe. Admission is free, but please register in advance.
Learn more and register >

Lunar New Year Celebration, San Ramon

Sunday, February 22, 2 – 3 pm
City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon
Kick off the Year of the Horse with Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese performances and lion dances. Wear red for luck.
More details >

Lunar New Year San Francisco Symphony

Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 5 pm
Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco 
This annual Lunar New Year event draws upon Asian traditions, past and present, in a celebration of music and community.
More details >

Lunar New Year Family Day at Filoli, Woodside

Saturday, February 28, 2026 10 am – 5 pm
Filoli Gardens in Woodside 
Families can enjoy traditional Chinese Lion Dance performances in the Garden and a special story time. Included in general admission.
More details >

Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco

Saturday, March 7, 2026, evening
San Francisco Chinatown, Second and Market Streets
This annual parade returns! Watch the 2.5-hour-long parade, usually beginning at 5:15 pm. Free, though bleacher seats are available for purchase. Arrive early to check out the community street fair that’s taking place before the parade. Don’t miss the playground at Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Park in SF Chinatown, too.
More details >

8 East Bay Restaurants Kids Love

1. Burma Superstar (Alameda + Oakland) | Also offering a smaller to-go operation one block down on Telegraph. My children will both eat coconut rice and mango slices. Protein? No, thank you. But the grown-ups are more than happy, so it’s all good. – Whitney. Website.
2. Dumpling Time (Berkeley + others) | Delightfully small portions of dumplings and gyoza for little appetites. This tasty spot can get very busy at peak times. Website.
3. Manpuku (Elmwood) | Affordable, tasty sushi and Japanese fare. Website.
4. Monster Pho (Temescal) | Tasty Vietnamese served by robots in a colorful, inventive atmosphere. My kids giggled in amazement as the Monster Pho robot moved across the room, stopped next to our table, and talked to us. — Maureen. Website.
5. Ohgane Korean (Oakland + Alameda + Concord) | Korean BBQ for take-out and dine-in. Website.
6. Oori Rice Triangles (Albany + Berkeley + Oakland) | Popular rice triangle chain open for takeout and dining in. My family and so many friends LOVE the takeout from Oori Rice triangles – Carol B. Website.
7. Renee’s Place (Albany) | Delicious Chinese. Wonderful neighborhood restaurant where Renee herself enjoys greeting the regulars of all ages and knows how to accommodate multi-generational parties very well. – Holly L. Website.
8. Samurai Sushi Boat (Grand Ave. Oakland) | Sushi boat restaurant to delight you and your children both. Website.

88+ other restaurants loved by kids >>

Or take an easier route and buy tangerines or oranges from your local market for a festive dessert that represents wealth and luck.

Lunar New Year Craft Ideas for Families

Zodiac Animal Coloring Pages. Learn about the twelve animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac. Children can learn about each animal that rules a year of birth and influences personality. Discover their animal and see if the description is accurate. Download coloring pages from the Asian Art Museum here >

Chinese Red Envelopes Craft. Traditionally, money is the gift of choice during the Lunar New Year celebration, typically handed out in vibrant red envelopes. Add a bit of fun to the tradition by making your blinged-out envelopes for the occasion. This version from Sue over at First Palette is great because it comes with a handy printable template! Head over to First Palette to get started >

Hanging Citrus Fruit Paper Craft. Tangerines and oranges are good luck and symbolize wealth for the new year. Brighten up your house with this adorable craft by Chelsey at Buggy and Buddy. Don’t worry, for those of us who aren’t the craftiest, it’s pretty easy to make with colored paper, brown yarn, scissors, and glue. Find the tutorial here >

Paper Lantern Craft for the Lunar New Year. There are a ton of paper lantern craft ideas on the internet, but these mini versions are just that perfect version of cute that your little ones are sure to love. The addition of the hearts makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day too, so two birds with one stone! Check out the craft at The Craft Train here >

What will you do to celebrate??

Special thanks to OMCA for sponsoring our Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse Guide.