The Port's first Lunar New Year event was first celebrated in 2015. 2024 marks the tenth annual Lunar New Year Festival, which welcomes in the year of the auspicious Dragon. It is also the second in-person celebration of the event since 2020. The popular event was held online in both 2021 and 2022, due to the pandemic. This year, the Lunar New Year Festival was held at the newly opened Wilmington Waterfront Promenade. While the venue and participants have changed through the years, the traditions of the event have continued, including colorful decorations, delicious foods, a live petting zoo, arts and crafts, the wishing wall, live entertainment and of course, the fireworks grand finale. Let's take a look at some of the Port's past Lunar New Year events.
In 2023 the Port hosted the 9th Annual Lunar New Year Festival, welcoming in the Year of the Rabbit.
This was the first in-person celebration of the event since 2020, and was preceded by two years of virtual (online) Lunar New Year events in 2021 and 2022, due to the pandemic.
Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the return of the in-person Lunar New Year Festival in 2023, which was located at the Port of LA's Cabrillo Way Marina venue on the LA Waterfront.
In 2022 we celebrated our 8th Lunar New Year, Year of the Tiger! This was our second virtual celebration of this event, due to the pandemic. Attendees who participated virtually, from the safety of their homes, enjoyed learning about Lunar New Year traditions and fun facts, creating colorful arts & crafts, trying new recipes of typical Lunar New Year dishes, and even posting their wish for the new year on our virtual wishing wall on Instagram.
In 2021 we celebrated our 7th Lunar New Year, which was the first virtual celebration of this event, due to the pandemic. Attendees who participated virtually, from the safety of their homes, enjoyed learning about Lunar New Year traditions and fun facts, creating colorful arts & crafts, trying new recipes of typical Lunar New Year dishes, and even posting their wish for the new year on our virtual wishing wall on Instagram.
On Saturday, January 25, the Port of Los Angeles hosted the 6th Annual Lunar New Year Festival at Cabrillo Way Marina, to celebrate the Year of the Rat. The free community event featured a variety of entertainment for all ages, including cultural performances, face painting, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, and a fireworks finale!
Unfortunately, in 2019, Mother Nature decided to take the main stage and put on an impressive rain and wind storm that caused a power outage at the venue. As a result, Lunar New Year 2019 was canceled just a few hours before it was scheduled to begin.
The Port of Los Angeles hosted its 4th Annual Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 10, at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. For the year of the dog, visitors enjoyed live entertainment, Red Carpet Ready Dog Adoptions, a wishing wall, food trucks, face painting, and a host of celebratory activities honoring this annual multicultural Asian tradition.
On Saturday, January 21, 2017 the Port of Los Angeles hosted the third annual Lunar New Year Festival on the LA Waterfront, at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. The free community event featured a petting zoo, traditional dancers, Taiko drummers, face painting, arts and crafts, calligraphy and brush artistry, and of course a firecracker finale!
On Saturday, February 6, the Port of Los Angeles hosted the second annual Lunar New Year Festival on the LA Waterfront, celebrating 2016’s year of the fire monkey. Honoring the rich cultural diversity of the Asian community, this free, family-friendly event included artistic performances representing China, Japan, and Korea – the Port’s top three trading partners. Festival-goers also enjoyed food trucks, arts and crafts, and face painting with a fantastic fireworks show to top off the night.
The Port of Los Angeles hosted its first Lunar New Year Festival on February 21, 2015. The Port and the greater Los Angeles region have deep and lasting ties to the people and cultures of Asia. We are delighted to add this cultural celebration to our list of family-friendly community events on the LA Waterfront.
