Irvine’s First-Ever Lunar New Year Parade Drawing Around 10,000

Video provided by: Irvine Universal Group

Video provided by: Ken

“Drums in Motion, Leading the Way”！

Irvine’s first-ever Lunar New Year Parade and Carnival made a spectacular debut on February 7 at the Great Park, drawing more than 9,000 participants.

Led by the Asian American Museum at the Great Park, and supported by the City of Irvine, the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, and numerous Asian American community organizations, the celebration brought together people of diverse cultural backgrounds. 

The park was filled with energy, color, and excitement as families gathered to welcome the Lunar New Year.

Mounted Police ｜ Horse Float

This marked the inaugural Lunar New Year Parade in Irvine. Many attendees arrived early in the morning to secure viewing spots along the route. 

In celebration of the Year of the Horse, a special horse-themed float—designed by veteran stage and film art director Yu-Min Sun—was displayed near the reviewing stand, drawing families eager to take photos and share the moment.

At 11:00 a.m., the parade officially began, led by two Irvine Police Department motorcycle units, a Tesla Cybertruck, and three mounted police officers. 

Accompanied by the Beckman High School Marching Band, the procession departed from Parking Lot 4 and set the festive tone for the historic event.

Dragon Lions ｜ Crowd Cheers

The parade moved along the Great Park’s Historical Timeline Walk, featuring elected officials, community leaders, and cultural organizations and performance groups representing Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and other communities. 

As the colorful procession passed the reviewing stand, it highlighted Irvine’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community unity.

Multiple dragon and lion dance teams captivated the crowd with dynamic movements set to the thunder of drums and cymbals. 

 The playful lion weaved through the crowd, charming children with head pats and high-fives—sparking nonstop laughter and festive cheer.

Performances by the South Coast Chinese Wushu Team—blending martial arts, dragon dance, and Roulian Ball—drew enthusiastic applause as spectators raised their phones to capture the excitement.

The Irvine Children’s Choir lit up the parade with an adorable Year of the Horse performance, their bright young voices spreading festive cheer and pure joy. As each parade group passed, the crowd eagerly raised their phones to capture every unforgettable moment.

Following the parade, the celebration continued with a lively carnival at Great Park Live.

Music Dance ｜ Culture Shared

The stage program opened with a performance by the South Coast Chinese Orchestra under the direction of Bin He.

Performing groups included Irvine Immersive Chinese School, the Vietnamese Water Cloud Dance Ensemble, Hawaiian Hula dancers, a Korean Ribbon Drum team, Japanese Taiko drummers, and an Indonesian Gamelan ensemble.

Southern California Chinese Dance Group, Regulus Irvine Taekwondo Demonstration Team, the South Coast Chinese Wushu Team, and the Irvine Fusion Lion Dance Team. Each performance was met with warm applause from the audience.

Cultural Activities ｜ Family Fun

Hands-on cultural activities were especially popular with families. Hosted by the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, activities such as the interactive “Eating the Dragon” game, Mahjong Bingo, Hou Yi Archery, lantern making, and paper cutting offered children and parents engaging ways to experience traditional culture.

The Irvine Chinese Senior Association booth was also a crowd favorite, with long lines forming as attendees received hand-painted fans featuring plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and the Chinese character for “horse.” Many paused to film the artists at work, capturing the moment as a keepsake.

A wishing wall invited photo ops and New Year blessings, while popular Asian drinks and BBQ booths drew long lines all day.

From morning through evening, the Lunar New Year Carnival—featuring the parade, music, dance, martial arts, hands-on cultural activities, and Asian cuisine—concluded on a festive high note.Asian-style beverages and BBQ food drew long lines, keeping the festive atmosphere alive throughout the day until the early evening.

City Leaders ｜ Community United

They expressed hope that the Lunar New Year Parade would become an annual signature celebration at the Great Park and wished everyone a joyful and prosperous New Year.

In addition to city leaders, attendees included Orange County Supervisor Vice Chair Katrina Foley, U.S. Representative Dave Min, and California Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, who joined residents in celebrating the Lunar New Year together.

As the drums faded and smiles lingered, the Lunar New Year Parade became more than a celebration—bringing cultures together, generations side by side, and capturing Irvine’s warm, shared spirit.

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