Travel Costa Mesa Blog
2025 Lunar New Year: Embrace the Year of the Snake in Costa Mesa
Lunar New Year arrives on January 29th, 2025, and Costa Mesa is one of the best places to spend it. From festive dining to unique experiences, the city is brimming with ways to join in the festivities and welcome in the Year of the Snake.
About Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is one of the most important holidays in China, and it is also widely celebrated by other cultures. It is a 15-day celebration marked by many traditions in the home, auspicious wishes, shopping, and spending time with family. The 15th and final day of the holiday is observed as the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the celebration.
Lunar New Year is part of a larger cycle, moving through the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, bringing us out of the Year of the Dragon into the Year of the Snake. The symbolism of the snake represents a complex interplay of elements. Its meaning can range from luck and authority to craftiness and mysteriousness.
In 2025, Costa Mesa will feature numerous celebrations and special events throughout the festival, providing cultural experiences that will entertain, educate, and allow you to explore with family and friends. But it doesn’t end there—many places will have ongoing opportunities to celebrate throughout the month, from celebratory menus to unique shopping experiences.
The Lunar New Year Experience at South Coast Plaza
January 23rd – February 9th
Shop, Dine, and Celebrate
South Coast Plaza eateries will feature festive menu options, special offers, and activities to immerse you in the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year. Expect thematic decor, shopping deals, and events throughout the entire span of the festival. Be sure to visit Jewel Court for a themed installation and atmospheric decorations.
Image via Pandora
Year of the Snake Style
Snakes are slithering into your favorite luxury boutiques, but don’t worry–these snakes bring good luck for the new year. From cutely coiled gold bracelets at Pandora to Palm Angels tracksuits with a full snake print, you can embrace the style as delicately or boldly as you like. Other luxury favorites like Sandro are offering more subtle designs, like classic sweatshirts, joggers, and hoodies with a playful snake emblem.
Window shop all the Lunar New Year merchandise at South Coast Plaza on their website.
Image via South Coast Plaza
Lunar New Year Exclusives
It’s not often that South Coast Plaza offers a sale or promotion, so when they do, we know it’s going to be good. Now might just be the time to splurge on that handbag or watch you’ve been saving up for.
This year, South Coast Plaza is teaming up with LIULI Crystal Art for an exquisite tea set, available as a gift with purchase. LIULI Crystal Art’s gallery is located in Bloomingdales, and the company is known for reinvigorating a style of glass art that dates back to the Han Dynasty in China. Purchases of $3,888 are eligible to receive the exclusive tea set. View the details and more information on the exclusive item here.
Lunar New Year Flavors
Restaurants are still cooking up all the specials for Lunar New Year, but we’re keeping an eye on this page to see what’s new. While we wait for the latest from Lunar New Year favorites like Paradise Dynasty, AnQi, and Michelin star winner Knife Pleat, let’s dig into what Din Tai Fung has planned.
Image via Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung Collaboration with James Jean
Known for its xiao long bao (soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung is a great stop for the whole family. This year, they’ve planned a delicious collaboration with James Jean, a renowned Taiwanese-American artist. Their Costa Mesa location will feature special installations of Jean’s work and a themed menu with dishes symbolizing prosperity, longevity, and joy.
TIP: Don’t forget to collect your lucky red envelope. Five lucky guests will find a Golden Ticket inside that awards access to Din Tai Fung’s VIP Reservation Concierge Service.
Lunar New Year Cultural Events
Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival
Saturday, January 25th
1:00 – 6:00 PM
Lunar New Year celebrations take over Centennial Park for a family-friendly, free-to-attend event. Celebrate Asian and Vietnamese culture with live dance performances, cultural exhibits, and food vendors. At 5:45 PM, the celebration concludes with a spectacular fireworks show.
Pacific Symphony Lunar Year at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Saturday, February 1st
8:00 PM
Experience a celebration of communities coming together with performances of Eastern and Western music and dance at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Watch as hundreds of performers showcase their talents, including virtuoso guzheng player Bei Bei Monter. Other performers of note include:
- Acclaimed pianist Joyce Yang
- Yang Liu on the erhu
- Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy
- Violin Studio of Wendy Castillo
- American Feel Young Chorus
- YaYa Dance Academy
- Pacific Chorale
O.C. Lantern Festival at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Saturday, February 22nd
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
At the tail end of the Lunar New Year celebrations on February 22nd is Pacific Symphony’s annual Lantern Festival at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Free for the whole family, the event marks the end of the Lunar New Year season. Be dazzled by a lobby transformed with floating lanterns and then dive into the array of events, including music, dance, art making, food, riddles, and more. Admission is free, but remember to reserve your tickets ahead of time.
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February Feed: Costa Mesa’s Trending News & Reads
Costa Mesa has been gaining attention in the media lately as the cultural epicenter of Orange County. From our Kobe Bryant murals to fun Leap Year activities and Lunar New Year celebrations throughout the city, there’s clearly so many reasons everyone is flocking to Costa Mesa! Check out four stories of Costa Mesa featured in the press.
1. Kobe Bryant Murals Featured on ESPN
The legacy of Kobe Bryant lives on in Costa Mesa. ESPN recently recognized the Kobe Bryant mural created by Andaluz outside Social Costa Mesa as one of over 600 murals worldwide honoring his memory and the lives of those lost in the accident.
2. Leap Year Itineraries Curated by Locale
Local Magazine curated five unique itineraries showcasing Costa Mesa’s best offerings and hotel accommodations in “5 Unique Ways to Spend Your Extra Leap Year Day in Costa Mesa,” a handy guide for planning February 29th, or any free day on your calendar!
3. South Coast Plaza Year of the Dragon Celebration Highlighted in Business Wire
Business Wire highlighted South Coast Plaza for hosting the largest Lunar New Year celebration on the West Coast. The 19-day celebration features colorful performances, exclusive products, traditional cuisine, and captivating installations that bring the community together in celebration.
4. LA Times Showcases Costa Mesa as a Cultural Haven
The Los Angeles Times article, “Unveiling Costa Mesa: A Haven for Culture, Cuisine, and Community,” captures the essence of the city, emphasizing its diverse culinary scene, rich cultural experiences, and a strong sense of community that is weaved together through it’s seven diverse neighborhoods.
These recent features and publications underscore Costa Mesa’s rising prominence as the cultural hub of Orange County. So, when planning your Southern California getaway, be sure to make a visit to Costa Mesa to experience everything we have to offer!
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Posted in Events, Misc, Music & Art, News, Shopping
2024 Lunar New Year: Embrace the Year of the Dragon in Costa Mesa
Lunar New Year is nearly here, and Costa Mesa is one of the best places to spend it. From dining to unique experiences, the city is brimming with ways to join in the festivities and welcome in the Year of the Dragon.
About Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is one of the most important holidays in China, and it is also widely celebrated by other cultures. It is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions in the home, auspicious wishes, shopping and spending time with family. The fifteenth and final day of the holiday is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, marked to end the celebration. Lunar New Year is part of a larger cycle, moving through the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, bringing us out of the year of the rabbit into the year of the dragon. The only mythological creature of the Chinese zodiac, the dragon symbolizes good luck, strength, and power.
In 2024, Costa Mesa will kick off with several celebrations and special events on the weekend of February 9–11th, providing cultural experiences that will entertain, educate, and allow you to explore with family and friends. But it doesn’t end there—many places will have ongoing opportunities to celebrate throughout the month.
The Lunar New Year Experience at South Coast Plaza
Shop, Dine, and Celebrate
South Coast Plaza eateries will feature unique menu options, special offers, and activities to immerse you in the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year. Expect thematic decor, special shopping deals, and events throughout the month. Be sure to visit Jewel Court for a themed year of the dragon installation.
South Coast Plaza Lunar New Year Flavors
Paradise Dynasty
Paradise Dynasty will offer six specialty dishes designed by their chef, including Singapore-style stir-fried black pepper lobster, steamed Chilean sea bass, braised pork, Paradise salted duck, and Dynasty sticky rice. Specialty dishes are available through March 31st. Hot Tip: If you arrive for the Lunar New Year, you will receive a lucky red envelope with a certificate for 20% off a future visit.
Afternoon Tea at Knife Pleat
This Michelin-starred restaurant is adding Lunar New Year-inspired additions to its Saturday afternoon tea service on February 10th, 17th, and 24th. Some of the unique items will include mini mooncakes, black sesame balls with mandarin filling, and chocolate gold coins. Hot Tip: For something stronger try their commemorative year of the dragon cocktail.
Lucky Dishes at Din Tai Fung
Known for its xiao long bao (soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung is a great stop for the whole family, where they will be serving up lucky Lunar New Year dishes. Adding to the luck, every guest will receive a red envelope with a surprise inside. Hot Tip: Arrive early to put in your name then explore South Coast Plaza while you await your call back.
For Sweet Temptations
Laderach, Sugarfina, and See’s Candies will all feature limited-run Lunar New Year sweets. All make great gifts to take home to share the Lunar New Year cheer with friends and family.
More Year of the Dragon Specials
- Terrace by Mix Mix: Offering a three-course prix fixe menu with Asian fusion flavors throughout February. Featuring shrimp spring roll lettuce wraps, glazed duck breast, and coconut panna cotta.
- AnQi: Featuring a prix fixe Good Luck Menu February 10–11th, either as six courses or à la carte. Dig into crispy quail, Wagyu “pop tarts,” shrimp and lobster money bags, and more.
- Water Grill: An immersive experience with festive decor, symbolic à la carte dishes, and garlic noodles (for luck and a long, joyous life). Ongoing from February 8–24th.
Lunar New Year Cultural Events
Pacific Symphony Lunar Year at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Saturday, February 10th
8pm
Experience a celebration of communities coming together with performances of Eastern and Western music and dance at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. A total of more than 200 performers will showcase their talents, including distinguished soloist Fei-Fei Dong performing Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. Other performers of note include:
- Acclaimed pipa player Yu Liu
- Zither player Brian Bùi
- Pacific Choral
- The American Feel-Young Chorus
- Armonia Singers
- The Ya Ya Dance Academy
- Wendy Hua’s Violin Studio at Orange County Music and Dance
Tết Festival at OC Fair & Event Center
February 9th–11th
Hours vary by day
Experience the largest Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival at the OC Fair & Event Center from February 9th through the 11th. This family-friendly celebration offers a memorable experience where you can merge fun and education, learning about Vietnamese culture in the best ways possible—through delectable food, traditional performances, and cultural exhibitions. General admission is $8, and children 2 years old and under get in for free.
Event parking is $12.
OC Lantern Festival at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Saturday, March 2nd
11am–4pm
At the tail end of the Lunar New Year celebrations on March 2nd is the OC Lantern Festival held at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Free for the whole family, the event marks the end of the Lunar New Year season. Be dazzled by a lobby transformed with floating lanterns and the dive into the array of events, including music, dance, art making, food, riddles, and more. Then, it all culminates with a thrilling dragon dance held in the plaza!
Shen Yun at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
March 13th–17th
If the Lunar New Year celebrations have sparked your interest in learning more about the vibrant cultures across the continent of Asia, a performance of Shen Yun is a must see. This performance explores China’s rich 5000-year history through inspiring performances of classical Chinese dance and music with stunning costumes and backdrops.
Stay the Night to Continue the Celebration
With Lunar New Year celebrations lasting fifteen days it’s a beautiful time of the year to extend your stay to experience everything this holiday has to offer. Start the Year of the Dragon with comfort and extensive amenities when you book an overnight stay at one of our eleven Costa Mesa hotels.
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