Asian Cultural Events in Costa Mesa

 

Costa Mesa is home to great cultural events each year, ranging from Chinese New Year to Tet Festival events to annual performances at the city’s world-class performing arts center, Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

South Coast Plaza, an internationally recognized shopping destination in Costa Mesa, California where visitors from around the world come to shop hundreds of designer retailers and unique boutiques, celebrates events throughout the year. The center's Jewel Court and Carousel Court are often the location of Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations.

For several years, South Coast Plaza has presented a Lunar New Year celebration for approximately six weeks. A series of displays featuring the Year of the Rat (in 2020) are installed throughout South Coast Plaza, making it a wonderful place to capture photos, enjoy the cuisine and get special shopping offers.

Scheduled events, including musical performances, artistic exhibits and children’s activities take place during this celebratory time of year.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts regularly welcomes culturally diverse shows throughout the year, including annual performances by Shen Yun, the Shanghai Acrobats and the Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin.

Orange County’s Pacific Symphony presents an annual Lunar New Year concert, bringing together communities for a colorful performing arts celebration blending both Eastern and Western artistry.

Each January, the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations attracts more than 60,000 guests to its annual Tet Festival held at Costa Mesa’s OC Fair & Event Center. The three-day Tet Festival celebrates the Lunar New Year with live entertainment, festive games and rides, food and a fireworks show.

Costa Mesa also hosts a vibrant and diverse culinary Asian food scene, named "the ramen capital of Orange County" by the Orange County Register.  Restaurants found in Costa Mesa include the acclaimed Shanghai dumpling house Din Tai Fung, Anjin Japanese steakhouse, Hashigo Korean Kitchen, the Mitsuwa Marketplace, Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai, AnQi Bistro and Noodle Bar, Hamamori and Michelin-starred Hana re Sushi, among others.