This year, the Lunar New Year – otherwise known as Chinese New Year – lands on Sunday, January 22nd. Celebrations for the annual event often last for up to two weeks, starting ahead of the special day. For the next couple weeks, there are a variety of fabulous celebrations you can attend here in Houston – from food festivals, to sumo, and lion dances!
1. Celebrate All the Festivities at Post HTX
Houston’s premier entertainment venue and cultural hub is ushering in the Year of the Rabbit on January 15 with a day full of Lunar New Year festivities. Hosted by the Ho Family of HBO’s House of Ho, the festivities include a carnivalesque Asian pop-up market, lion dancing, food vendors, and more – all capped with a grand Lunar New Year party in the X Atrium.
2. Asia Society
On Saturday, February 5, the Asia Society Texas Center is hosting a free Lunar New Year festival with “drums, dances, dim sum, and more”! The all-ages, indoor/outdoors event is free to attend, but does require registration as well as additional purchase for performances by Huaxing Arts Group Houston. The celebration runs from 11 am to 4 pm at 1370 Southmore Blvd, Houston, TX, 77004 and is set to include LNY traditions, arts, crafts, festive food, and fun!
3. Chow Down on Amazing Asian Street Eats
Houston’s highly coveted, foodie-revered Asian Night Market that occurs once in a blue moon. Often times taking place in different locations, the night market features a dazzling variety of Asian food vendors as well as swarms of hungry Houstonians looking to get a cheap bite amid air thick with smoke, steam, and clouds of ambrosia. On February 5 and 6, new residential market, Railway Heights Market will host a special LNY Asian Night Market from 5 – 11 pm.
4. Double Down on Asian Bites at the Otaku Food Fest
Following in the footsteps of the Asian Night Market, Otaku Food Fest made its debut in Houston last summer. Promising lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, sumo wrestling, noodle artistry, and an anime village, Otaku Food Festival on January 29th (noon – 10 pm) and 30th (noon – 8 pm) at 8th Wonder might go down as the best one yet!
5. Dance Like a Dragon at Gallery Furniture
On Sunday, January 30, catch a stunning performance from Soaring Phoenix Dragon and Lion Dance Association at Gallery Furniture’s 6006 N. Freeway location. The event, starting at noon, is also set to include traditional decor, special performances, and family-friendly activities.
6. Chinese Community Center
On Saturday, February 5, the Chinese Community Center in Houston will host an all-outdoors event from 10 am to 4 pm. The free festival will feature cultural and family-friendly activities, live performances, LNY souvenirs, and fantastic food!
7. Sit Down For A 6-Course Spread at Phat Eatery
On February 1, 5, and 6, the Malaysian street food restaurant in Katy will be offering a special 6-course, family-style, Chinese New Year menu. The menu – $28 – $78 per person – includes their famous Prosperity Toss Salad, a house specialty dim sum platter, Roti Peking Duck Roll, Short Rib Rendang, Lump Crab Bone Marrow Fried Rice, and dessert. During the meals, the restaurant will host Lee’s Golden Dragon who will perform a traditional Lion dance.
8. Celebrate With 100 Lions And Dragons
Local non-profit, Lunar New Year Houston is back with another grand spectacle at the Viet Hoa Center to celebrate the special holiday with lions and dragons, one million lucky red firecrackers, martial arts, and dance! Check out the link here for the full schedule.