|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The official start of the Lunar New Year is Feb. 17, but celebrations in Silicon Valley begin in earnest Jan. 24-25 and stretch through the end of February. That means more time to check out events ranging from large festivals and smaller city-led celebrations to special storytimes, cultural performances and craft activities for kids and adults.
This year will mark the Year of the Fire Horse, with the horse as the zodiac sign and fire as the corresponding element for 2026. Here’s our guide to celebrating on the Peninsula. Events are free unless otherwise noted.
Lunar New Year in Downtown San Mateo Catch the Lion Dance ME troupe perform on B Street, plus a parade, community booths with activities, red envelopes and giveaways.
Jan. 24, noon to 2 p.m., B Street (between 1st and 2nd avenues), San Mateo. dsma.org/event/lunar-new-year-in-downtown-san-mateo.
Lunar New Year Mindfulness Art Local artist, teacher and picture book illustrator Zuzu Gong will lead participants in sketching portraits of a loved one or pet. The event is suitable for kids and families, with up to 30 participants.
Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to noon, Millbrae Library, 1 Library Ave., Millbrae. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/695bf4c691e4576f847ad4a9.
Vietnamese Lunar New Year Dance Performance Celebrate Tết with a performance by a local Vietnamese dance troupe at the San Carlos Library.
Jan. 24, 1-1:30 p.m., San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos. tinyurl.com/celebratetet.
Calligraphy Art Zuzu Gong leads sessions on calligraphy techniques at the Pacifica Sanchez Library and Woodside Library. Kids and families are welcome, but preregistration is required.
Jan. 24, 2-3:30 p.m., Pacifica Sanchez Library, 1111 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/695eeab42c65973d0016906e. Feb. 7, 1-2:30 p.m., Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, Woodside. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/69545e3a2c65973d00150b44.
DIY Red Envelopes Children ages 6-18 will cut, glue and decorate red envelopes for the new year.
Jan. 24, 3-4 p.m., Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/69375cc16724c63d00e5f3ce. Feb. 27, 3:15-4 p.m., East Palo Alto Library, East Palo Alto. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/696981c676261f280064b1e8.
Linden Tree Books Lunar New Year Storytime San Francisco author Oliver Chin will share his latest children’s picture book “The Year of the Horse: Tales of the Chinese Zodiac” Jan. 25 at Linden Tree Books.
Jan. 25, 10:30 a.m., Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos. lindentreebooks.com/the-year-of-the-horse-tales-from-the-chinese-zodia.html.
Palo Alto Lunar New Year Celebration Palo Alto City Library’s event will feature performances from Cornerstone School, Stanford’s Mua Lac Hong, Joyous Lion Dance Troupe and Palo Alto High School’s Kpop Dance Club. The event will also include crafts, the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo and light snacks. The celebration is ideal for children 3-11 and their families, but all are welcome. Seating will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
Jan. 25, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mitchell Park Community Center (El Palo Alto Room), 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. paloalto.gov/Events-Directory/Library/Lunar-New-Year-Celebration-2026.
Yarn Mane Horse Papercraft Children and their families can make a mane out of yarn for a paper horse as part of a Year of the Horse craft.
Jan. 31, 3-4 p.m., Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/6938935e6724c63d00e61e32. Feb. 1, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, Woodside. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/69408f46ddf5632800210ac7. Feb. 18, 2:45-3:45 p.m., San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/696be32c6c126d0e489529e7.
Silicon Valley Lunar New Year Together This two-day celebration will include a parade, multicultural performances like lion and dragon dances, and over 200 food, art and cultural vendors.
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, noon to 6 p.m., 900 Lafayette St., Santa Clara. discoversantaclara.org/event/2026-silicon-valley-lunar-new-year-together-2026-01-31.
Mountain View Library Events The Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra will perform heritage Chinese music on traditional Chinese instruments Jan. 31. On Feb. 25, join a virtual program presented by the Asian Art Museum to learn about Lunar New Year traditions and symbolism.
Jan. 31 performance, 2-3 p.m., Mountain View Library (first floor program room), 585 Franklin St., Mountain View. mountainview.libcal.com/event/15547677. Feb. 25 program, 6:30-7:30 p.m., online. mountainview.libcal.com/event/15921803.
Tò He Making Workshops Chopsticks Alley Art instructors will lead workshops making Tò He, a traditional Vietnamese toy figurine, using polymer clay. Kids and families are invited to join.
Workshops run Feb. 3-28 at multiple San Mateo County libraries; visit smcl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events for more info and to preregister.
CuriOydssey First Friday Night Lunar New Year Celebration The children’s science museum and zoo welcomes the Year of the Horse with performances by the Cal VSA Lion Dance Team, themed crafts and bites from Ace Dumpling and Satay By The Bay SF. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase. This event often sells out, so advance registration is required.
Feb. 6, 5-8 p.m., CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. $17.95-$22.95 each, free for children under 18 months. Admission does not guarantee a wristband to the lion dance performances due to their popularity; see website for details. curiodyssey.org/exhibits-events/first-friday-nights.
Lunar New Year Market Bloomhouse EPA will host over 30 vendors, live music and entertainment plus a food drive, giveaways and photo opps.
Feb. 7, noon to 4 p.m., Bloomhouse EPA, 2555 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto. instagram.com/bloomhouseepa.
Minhwa Painting Workshop Participants in this three-hour workshop will learn about the traditional Korean art form Minhwa and its cultural significance, as well as try basic painting techniques using Hanji and pigments. Preregistration is required, and space is limited. This workshop is geared toward adults.
Feb. 7, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Foster City Library, 1000 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/692f6a32884c6a3515bb5893. Feb. 22, 1-4 p.m., San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/6938975c7ed7c62f00a9a6c1. Feb. 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Brisbane Library, Brisbane. 163 Visitacion Ave., Brisbane. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/69602d1c94297d3600a41ed3.
Sketchbook Making Zuzu Gong will lead participants through 10 mini exercises to start sketchbook practice at their own pace.
Feb. 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m., North Fair Oaks Library, 2510 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/695d862f992fc18a86dbf625.
DIY Red Envelope Lanterns Teens can upcycle red envelopes into mini paper lanterns using rubber bands, skewers and red envelopes.
Feb. 8, 1-2 p.m., Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, Woodside. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/692f6a666fe94a3600a34ae9.
Belmont Lunar New Year Celebration Attendees are encouraged to wear red to the city of Belmont and Belmont Library’s festivities featuring dance, music and crafts. Performers include Joyous Spring Lion Dance Troupe, Fan Yang Dance Academy, Belmont Poet Laureate Greg McCulloh and more.
Feb. 8, 2-5 p.m., Twin Pines Senior & Community Center, 20 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont. tinyurl.com/belmontlunarnewyear2026.
Los Altos Library Events The library will host a family storytime Feb. 9 with author Oliver Chin reading from his children’s picture book “The Year of the Horse.” Children will then learn how to draw a horse and color zodiac animal-themed sheets. Recommended for kids 4 and up. On Valentine’s Day, the library will host lion dancing with Buu Kim Tu Dragon and the Lion Dance Association.
Feb. 9, 4-4:45 p.m., Feb. 14, 11-11:30 a.m., Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. sccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events.
Millbrae Lunar New Year Festival This two-day festival will feature lion and dragon dances, a firecracker display, family-friendly games, a kids’ fun area with bounce houses, multicultural performances and vendors selling food, drinks and crafts.
Feb. 14-15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Millbrae. eventbrite.com/e/millbrae-lunar-new-year-festival-tickets-1978032828437.
February Second Saturday Gamble Garden will host a morning of Lunar New Year activities, including a lion dance performance, themed storytime, crafts, guided tours and a scavenger hunt. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance; entry times will be staggered.
Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to noon, Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. gamblegarden.org/event/feb-second-sat-2026.
Year of the Horse Hike Celebrate Lunar New Year with docent naturalists Catherine Xun, Susan Dunn and Jianfei Hu on the Mindego Hill Trail at Russian Ridge Preserve. Hike a ridge once traveled on horseback and learn about Lunar New Year customs and a brief Chinese-Californian story. The moderately paced, 5-mile hike will feature seasonal grasslands, “wide-open views” and short breaks to observe wildlife. Bring snacks or lunch.
Feb. 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Russian Ridge Preserve, Redwood City. openspace.org/events/guided-activities/year-horse.
Jade Plant Workshop Learn how to care for jade plants and make your own jade arrangement with natural materials and decorate elements. All materials and tools will be provided, and no experience is necessary.
Feb. 17, 7-8 p.m., Luludi Living Art, 346 N. Ellsworth Ave., San Mateo. $74.75. tinyurl.com/jadeworkshopsanmateo.
Lunar New Year Storytime and Craft The San Mateo Library will ring in the Lunar New Year with a storytime featuring themes of good fortune and new beginnings, followed by a craft activity.
Feb. 21, 11 a.m. to noon, San Mateo Library, 55 W. Third Ave., San Mateo. sanmateopublic.libcal.com/calendar/kids.
Make Your Year of the Horse Calendar Adults will learn basic Chinese calligraphy to design a personalized calendar for decoration or a gift. Preregistration is required; this event has reached capacity at most libraries as of Jan. 20.
Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to noon, Pacifica Sharp Park Library, 104 Hilton Way, Pacifica. smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/692f6bec6fe94a3600a34b4f.
Daly City Lunar New Year Celebration Daly City’s City Hall will have special performances, food samples and kids’ activities for Lunar New Year.
Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to noon at City Hall of Daly City, 333 90th St., Daly City (event located at Edgeworth Avenue and 91st Street). instagram.com/dalycitygov.
Mountain View Lunar New Year Celebration The city of Mountain View’s festivities will include live performances, interactive crafts and games, local food trucks and community booths.
Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mountain View Community Center, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View. tinyurl.com/mountainviewlunarnewyear2026.
Lunar New Year Family Day Filoli’s festivities will include lion dance performances, activities and games. From 2-3 p.m., musician Winnie Wong will perform with traditional Chinese instruments (reservation required). The Historic House and Garden House will also feature displays inspired by Lunar New Year, including highlights from Filoli’s Asian art collection, a special floral display and more.
Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. General admission is $35-$45 each, free for children under 5. filoli.org/lunar-new-year.
Redwood City Lunar New Year Celebration The city’s 15th annual event will include martial arts demonstrations, taiko drummers, lion dancers and kids’ arts and crafts. The San Mateo County History Museum will be open with free admission all day.
Feb. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/cultural/lunar-new-year.
Avenidas Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration Older adults can watch live Lunar New Year performances at this annual Palo Alto event. Preregistration is required, as space is limited.
Feb. 28, 1:45-3:30 p.m., Cubberley Community Center (Building H, Room 1), 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. RSVP by Feb. 11. avenidas.org/event/2025-accc-lunar-new-year-celebration-2.
Subscribe to The Six Fifty’s weekly newsletter for the latest event roundups, neighborhood guides and features about Silicon Valley culture and hidden gems. Send story tips to editor@thesixfifty.com.
Mountain View nonprofit forgoes federal funding, rather than compromise valuesFebruary 6, 2026 2:20 pm