The year of the Fire Horse — known for bringing intense, dynamic times of rapid, transformative change — is about to begin. Celebrated as Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in Korea and Spring Festival in China, the exact date of the new year shifts each year because it’s based on the lunisolar calendar. This time, Lunar New Year lands on Feb. 17. But local celebration dates vary, with one of our largest local events, Tết in Seattle, taking place this weekend, and others continuing into March.
Tết in Seattle — Feb. 14-15
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tết in Seattle — one of 25 cultural festivals hosted at Seattle Center through the Festál program, and one of the largest Tết events in the Pacific Northwest. Spread across the Armory and Fisher Pavilion, Tết in Seattle welcomes the new year in a free, all-ages celebration of Vietnamese culture with the theme “Steadfast Warmth” in honor of the Fire Horse. Live entertainment throughout the weekend will include lion dances and an áo dài fashion show, with headlining performances by renowned Vietnamese singers Hồ Lệ Thu at 5 p.m. Saturday and the duo Trúc Linh & Trúc Lam at 3:45 p.m. Sunday. An all-ages health fair offers vaccines, vision screenings and more. There will be a food passport for the wide selection of Vietnamese dishes offered by local vendors; kids and adults’ eating competitions; and a festive bánh tết (sticky rice cake) wrapping competition. A community art gallery will explore the theme with works by local artists and a kids’ Tết zone keeps young visitors busy with hands-on activities.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. both days; Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle; tetinseattle.org
Lunar New Year at Westfield Southcenter — Feb. 14
With the theme “Celebrate Tradition in Motion,” the Westfield Southcenter mall will celebrate Lunar New Year with lion dances and live musical and martial arts performances, photo sessions with performers, a wishing tree dedication and red envelopes.
11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Westfield Southcenter, 2800 Southcenter Mall, Seattle; st.news/lunar-southcenter
Lunar New Year Family Festival — Feb. 21
Seattle Asian Art Museum’s family-focused festival features story time with artist Julie Kim (11 a.m.), and lion dances from Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association (noon) and Lieu Quan Lion Dance (1 p.m.). Throughout the day, guests can contribute to a community horse sculpture designed by local artist Monyee Chau and pose for pictures in the photo booth. There will also be dumplings, edamame and beverages available for purchase, but families are welcome to bring their own snacks.
11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle; free with museum admission, suggested $14.99 for adults and free for 14 and younger; st.news/lunar-family-festival
PNA Lunar New Year Celebration — Feb. 21
Phinney Neighborhood Association’s 2026 Lunar New Year celebration includes free arts and crafts, paper lantern decorating ($5), LQ Lion Dancers, a bake sale, food trucks and a marketplace of local Asian businesses and makers. A shuttle van between the buildings will be available throughout the event.
Noon-4 p.m.; Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; free to enter, fee for some activities; st.news/lunar-pna
Lunar New Year Celebration at The Bellevue Collection — Feb. 21
Lunar New Year decorations go up in Bellevue Square on Feb. 17, with lucky envelopes from guest services in the Center Court, pop-up and augmented-reality photo ops, and an interactive screen featuring traditions from Chinese New Year, Tết and Korean Seollal. The celebration on Feb. 21 will feature traditional and contemporary demonstrations of martial arts, music, dance and visual arts. Attendees at the free event can also participate in arts and craft activities.
11 a.m.-6 p.m.; 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue; bellevuecollection.com/lunarnewyear
Downtown Seattle Association Lunar New Year Celebration — Feb. 22
The free downtown celebration features three lion dance performances. The Mak Fai lion dancers will perform hourly starting at Pioneer Park at 1 p.m., moving to First Avenue and Pike Street, and finishing at Bell Street Park. Besides the performances at the top of each hour, the First and Pike stop will offer red envelope giveaways and treats from Bloom Coffee.
1-3:30 p.m.; downtown Seattle; st.news/downtown-seattle
Lincoln District Lunar New Year Festival — Feb. 22
The Lincoln District Lunar New Year Festival transforms the Tacoma Sunday Market with lion dances, firecrackers, food, shopping, music and kids’ activities. Attendees are also encouraged to shop from local businesses and restaurants in the district, which is known as a hub for Asian culture and tradition.
11 a.m.-3 p.m.; 3801 S. Yakima St., Tacoma; st.news/lunar-lincoln-district
City of Kirkland Lunar New Year Celebration — Feb. 28
The City of Kirkland’s annual free, all-ages Lunar New Year celebration includes food, crafts and performances. Activities will be held in the Peter Kirk Community Center, while live entertainment takes place next door at the Kirkland Teen Union Building.
2-4 p.m.; Kirkland Teen Union Building, 348 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; st.news/lunar-kirkland
Lunar New Year Edmonds — Feb. 28
From Feb. 15 until the celebration on the 28th, shoppers can fill Red Envelope Walk cards by finding “lucky horses” hidden in downtown Edmonds businesses (get 12 stamps to win a prize). On the 28th, attend a free theater program at the Edmonds Center for the Arts with performances by the Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association, the Massive Monkees hip-hop group and others. New this year, the ECA gym will be filled with family activities. Meanwhile, at Fifth Avenue North and Bell Street there will be a new year’s market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds; lunarnewyearedmonds.com
CIDBIA’s Lunar New Year Celebration — March 7
The Chinatown International District Lunar New Year Celebration is Seattle’s largest, with a main stage in Hing Hay Park for lion dancers, martial artists and other cultural performances. Vendors will line South King Street, and more than 40 local businesses will participate in the food walk, offering dishes from a variety of Asian cuisines. Scattered throughout the free event, families will find all-ages activities, arts and crafts, and cultural exhibits.
11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle; st.news/lunar-cid
Chinese New Year Lantern Festival Celebration — March 7
The Chinese Spring Festival begins with the new year and lasts two weeks, culminating with the Lantern Festival. This year, families can celebrate Lantern Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden, where the traditional landscape of the 4.6-acre garden provides a peaceful counterpoint to the excitement of an event filled with family-friendly activities, crafts and performances. Check online for updated details as the event gets closer.
11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle; donations appreciated; seattlechinesegarden.org
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yakimaherald.com ’
