Chinese New Year 2025 in Houston, TX

Houston's Asian-American community celebrates Chinese New Year at multiple festivals and parties. Special events kick off a week before and continue for a week after the Lunar New Year Day, which usually falls between late January and late February. From firecrackers to martial arts demonstrations, Houston offers a whirlwind of activities, perfect for celebrating Chinese New Year.

Lunar New Year Houston at Viet Hoa Center (late January-late February, 2025)

One of the prime annual occasions to honor the holiday is Lunar New Year Houston at Viet Hoa Center. Over a weekend, you'll experience a hundred lions and dragons, a million red firecrackers, martial arts, live music, dances, theatre, puppetry, and delectable foods. This pan-Asian outdoor party celebrates Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian, Japanese, and Filipino cultures. Free festivities usually run from 10 am through 6 pm.

Lunar New Year Festival at the Chinese Community Center (February 1, 2025)

Houston Chinatown is also an ideal place to ring in the Chinese New Year. At the Chinese Community Center, at Lunar New Year Festival, you'll likewise enjoy lion and dragon dances, local artists, cultural performances, food, games, and other businesses. Hundreds of people flock to the center to experience a variety of entertainment, vibrant traditional performances, and mouthwatering food from local food vendors. The entertainment is open from 10 am to 4 pm. As a bonus, the event is completely free of charge and suitable for families.

Texas Lunar Festival (February 1, 2025)

Another free annual bash takes place at the Alief Career Center at Richmond Avenue. The celebration is known as Texas Lunar Festival and consists of hundreds of traditional live performances. Additionally, the festive program includes martial arts demonstrations, a fashion show, food trucks, and vendors offering various souvenirs and memorable knick-knacks for sale. The event runs from 10:30 am until 4:30 pm. If you didn't have a chance to see the show live, you can witness the broadcast either on STV 21.8 local station or Southern News TV mobile app.

Lunar New Year at Asia Society Texas (February, 2025)

Asia Society Texas offers some free and ticketed events to honor Chinese New Year. The festivities usually run along Southmore Blvd. from 11 am to 4 pm. The program highlights lion dances, a Dragon Quest, arts and crafts, music, and foods, all inspired by Asian traditions and culture. Some music and dance performances will set you back $10.

Cultural Bridges Workshop (January 22, 2025)

In addition to the annual Lunar New Year celebration, the Asia Society hosts workshops and events to honor Chinese cultural heritage. This year, the center is set to host a "Cultural Bridges With AARP: Lunar New Year" workshop at 3 pm on January 22nd. The event is completely free and features educational discussions and lectures about the history of Chinese New Year, as well as traditions from across Asia.

'The Big Swim' Lunar New Year Opera (February 7-9, 2025)

In addition to workshops, you might enjoy a grand production from the Houston Grand Opera and Asia Society Texas called "The Big Swim." This one-act opera performance tells the story of the zodiac animals and their journey to understanding that support and understanding need to come first before competition and pride. The pre-show activities begin at 6:30 pm on February 7th and at 1 pm on February 8th and 9th. The performance begins at 7:30 pm on February 7th and at 2 pm on February 8th-9th.

Other Festivities

Besides the annual festivals, you can browse the Houston area and find more exciting events running about. Typically, Hong Kong City Mall holds some activities. Additionally, some museums, breweries, eateries, galleries, and other establishments provide special offers for the season. So, be assured you'll have quite enough options to mark the occasion.