23 Lunar New Year 2018 Events In Seattle
Where to Welcome the Year of the Dog with Lion and Dragon Dances, Dumplings, Lucky Envelopes, and More
The Lunar New Year in Chinatown festival is the biggest event in Seattle, complete with dragon and lion dances, taiko drumming, and the beloved $3 food walk. CHAM ROEUN BUNPHOATH
The Lunar New Year officially begins on February 16, but Seattle celebrations to welcome the Year of the Dog start well before then. We've rounded them all up below, from the Lunar New Year in Chinatown festival to Seattle Symphony's Celebrate Asia concert, and from Têt in Seattle - Vietnamese Lunar New Year to a celebration at Lucky Envelope Brewing. Find them all below, or on our Lunar New Year calendar.
FEBRUARY 7-20
Lunar New Year at Uwajimaya
The Asian grocery store chain will celebrate Lunar New Year by giving out lucky red envelopes with special prizes to customers who spend $30 or more. At the Seattle store on February 10 and 11, Yenbo Huang will also demonstrate Chinese calligraphy, copies of which will be available for purchase. There will also be colorful lion dance performances in Seattle and Renton on February 10, and in Bellevue on February 18.
FEBRUARY 10
Lunar New Year at Tacoma Dome
Celebrate Lunar New Year with the Asia Pacific Cultural Center by visiting over 90 booths and watching live performances from around the world.
Lunar New Year Banquet
See traditional performances, bid on auction items, and enjoy a special House of Hong menu to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year Dumpling Party
Bid adieu to the Year of Rooster and welcome in the Year of the Dog with a plate of delicious dumplings from Callus. Proceeds from the party benefit China Residencies, a non-profit directory and advisory platform for artists to "engage in creative exchange through residency programs in China."
Lunar New Year Fair
See a traditional lion dance before picking up a "passport" to go on a Lunar New Year tour through the Wing Luke Museum. There you'll find games, crafts, stories, face painting, a scavenger hunt, raffle prizes, and more.
Lunar New Year Gala
Ring in the Year of the Dog at the UW Chinese Student Association's 51st Annual Lunar New Year Gala, which is open to the public. There will be food, games, and prizes.
Sammamish Chinese New Year
Experience Chinese traditions surrounding the Lunar New Year by seeing performances by the International Lion Dance Team, watching a martial arts demonstration, live music, and dance, taking in visual arts, and visiting interactive booths.
FEBRUARY 10-11
Têt in Seattle - Vietnamese Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year is celebrated not only in China, but also in Vietnam, Korea, and other countries. Explore the cultural roots and contemporary influences of Vietnam through live performances, hands-on activities, foods, crafts, games, martial arts, and a market.
FEBRUARY 11
Celebrate Asia
Seattle Symphony will perform their annual Celebrate Asia concert, which has celebrated traditions of Seattle’s Asian communities for 10 years now. This year's concert will feature music by famous Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Indian composers. There will also be lion dancers and drummers to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Chinese New Year Celebration: Stories & Tea/Pastry Pairing
Sip tea, snack on pastries baked by Yana Bacheva Guerrero to represent symbols of good fortune, and learn about traditional symbols and rituals of prosperity for the Chinese New Year, like red envelopes and paper with Chinese words.
Lunar New Year in Chinatown
Ring in the Year of the Dog at this massive Lunar New Year celebration that showcases the diversity, richness, and culture of the Asian community. See traditional dragon and lion dances, Japanese Taiko drumming, martial arts, and other cultural performances on the Main Stage, plus arts and crafts and family activities—and don't miss the $3 food walk.
FEBRUARY 16
Lunar New Year at Great American Casino
Snag limited-edition $8 collectible chips in red envelopes and take in a dragon dance for the Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year at Wild Ginger
See a traditional lion dance performance by the International Lion Dance & Martial Arts Team in celebration of Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year: Red Envelopes
For Chinese New Year, Super Six will be distributing lucky red envelopes stuffed with surprise coupons with every check—yours could contain 50-percent-off your drinks, buy-one-get-one-free musubi deals, or half-off a hat or sweatshirt.
FEBRUARY 16-17
2018 Year of the Dog Chinese New Year Celebration
Ballard’s Lucky Envelope Brewing cofounders Barry Chan and Raymond Kwan named their business for the Chinese tradition of giving out colorful red packets stuffed with paper cash to bring good fortune for occasions such as the Lunar New Year (the color red is associated with energy and prosperity). To usher in the Year of the Dog, they’ve planned an all-out weekend celebration with five special “culturally inspired” beer releases, food trucks with sweet and savory taiyaki from BeanFish on Saturday and teriyaki rice bowls from Byte on Sunday, and—of course—red envelope giveaways with deals tucked inside.
FEBRUARY 17
Chungee's 8 Year Anniversary and Chinese New Year
Usher in the Year of the Dog with as well as Chungee's eighth anniversary with a special lion dance performance, homestyle Cantonese food, cocktails, and beer.
Lunar New Year at Phoenix Tea
Drink tea, eat snacks, make art, and write down your intentions at this Lunar New Year party.
FEBRUARY 18
Lincoln District Lunar New Year
See performances representing Lunar New Year traditions from around the world—including Thailand, Mexico, Hawaii, Somalia, Cambodia, and more—at this Tacoma event. Performers include Poerava Group, Variya, Esplandor Mexicano, Samuel Danh, Kanoelani Galiza, Rukio, and others.
Lunar New Year at Stevens Pass
Shred your way down the mountain and into the Lunar New Year. Then, watch a lion dance, enjoy traditional food specials, join a torchlight parade, and meet "avalanche dogs."
Musang Chinese New Year Pop-Up
This month's edition of Musang, a recurring pop-up brunch, will celebrate Chinese New Year by "honoring the many Chinese influences in Filipino Cuisine."
FEBRUARY 24
Lunar New Year at Bellevue Collection
See martial arts, music, and dance performances, and taste food from Din Tai Fung and Baron's Xi'an Kitchen and Bar, at this Lunar New Year celebration.
FEBRUARY 25
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Seattle 2018
This curious cultural fusion is the only event that fuses the celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns' birthday with the Chinese Lunar New Year. There's lion dancers and bagpipes, a special Presentation of the Haggis, and a recitation of Robert Burns' "Address to the Haggis."
ICHS Lunar New Year 5k
Celebrate the Year of the Dog by running or walking this annual 5K.