The first-ever Lunar New Year Parade and Festival will make its grand debut at the Great Park on Saturday, February 7, welcoming the community to ring in the Year of the Horse with a vibrant celebration of culture, music, and tradition.
Drums Lead · City Celebrates
Supported by the City of Irvine and presented by the Asian American Museum at Great Park, the event will open with a colorful parade at 11 a.m., traveling along the Great Park Historical Timeline pathway from Parking Lot 4 to Great Park Live.
Marching bands, schools, community organizations, and multicultural performance groups will fill the route with energy and pageantry.
The festival will begin immediately following the parade at Great Park Live, featuring live music and dance, family-friendly games, Mahjong Bingo, traditional calligraphy and arts-and-crafts activities, and a wide selection of Asian cuisine. Festivities will continue through 4:30 p.m.
City Backed · Community United
Mayor Larry Agran said the event reflects Irvine’s rich cultural diversity and inclusive spirit, and expressed hope that it will become a cherished annual tradition at the Great Park.
Councilmember William Go, Chair of the Great Park Board, added that the celebration highlights the park’s role as a gathering place for families and the broader community.
Councilmember Melinda Liu, Irvine’s first Taiwanese American and Mandarin-speaking councilmember, said she is honored to help bring the Lunar New Year celebration to the Great Park and to share it with the Korean, Vietnamese, and broader AANHPI communities.
Asian American Museum Executive Director Jack Toan also expressed hope that the festival will grow into a highly anticipated annual event.
Fully supporting Irvine’s inaugural Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center will present all three of its performance groups and cultural experiences, and invites more Asian organizations to join in showcasing the richness and diversity of Asian culture.
Stars Unite · Culture Shines
The parade’s Grand Marshal will be KCAL/KCBS news anchor Suzie Suh, the first South Korean American primetime news anchor in Los Angeles.
Participating groups include the Beckman High School Patriot Marching Band, Vietnamese Thủy Vân Dance Company, Hālau Hula Na Meakanu o Laka o Hawaii, Korean Doo Dream Head Ribbon Team, Japanese Taiko drummers, and Indonesian Burat Wangi Gamelan.
Also taking part are the South Coast Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Dance Company of Southern California, Indian Arpana Dance Company, Regulus Irvine Taekwondo Academy Demo Team, South Coast Wushu Team, and the Irvine Fusion Lion Dance Team, highlighting the diversity of Asia-Pacific cultures.
The Lunar New Year Parade and Festival is presented by Wells Fargo, with American Lending Center and Sunstone Management serving as Cultural Partner Sponsors.
Parade viewing and parking are free. Festival admission is $2, with free entry for children three and under. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.tixr.com/groups/greatparklive or at the gate on the day of the event.
Location: Great Park, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
Information: LNY@aamuseumoc.org
About the Asian American Museum at Great Park
Established in 2024 at Irvine’s Great Park, the Asian American Museum is envisioned as an inclusive and dynamic cultural landmark rooted in the spirit of “Belonging.”
Through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, artistic and culinary experiences, and community-centered events, the Museum presents the rich histories, cultural heritage, and lived stories of Asian Americans.
By highlighting resilience, creativity, and contribution, it fosters understanding and connection across generations and communities, and aspires to become a leading cultural hub and shared gathering place in Southern California.
Asian American Museum website: asianamericanmuseumoc.org