Lunar New Year events provide weekend experience

Lunar New Year may warrant a national holiday in Vietnam or China, but in the United States, it is often celebrated on weekends.

Lunar New Year celebrations will stretch on until mid-March; some Tet celebrations won’t begin until the last week of February. Take a future weekend to explore Houston’s cultural heritage by attending one of many upcoming Lunar New Year events.

Texas Lunar Festival

This multicultural event has been held for 19 years to bring the city together to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and will be held for the first time from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Discovery Green.

Participants will witness traditional dances, songs, attire and music, ranging from Chinese and Korean cultures to those of the Philippines and India.

Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased online. For a full itinerary of events, visit the event’s website.

Lunar New Year Houston Celebration

A two-day celebration of the Year of the Green Wooden Goat will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Viet Hoa Center, 8388 W. Sam Houston Parkway South.

Though each day features a few different events, both will be full of dances and fireworks. The event is free to attend, so take advantage of any spare time you have over the weekend to witness the celebration.

For a full itinerary of events, visit the event website.

Tet Lunar New Year Parade

Tet is a Vietnamese celebration of the Lunar New Year, and this year a parade will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, starting at the Saigon Houston Plaza (10603 Bellaire Blvd.), and concluding at Cook Road.

Houston Vietnamese Lunar New Year

The Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinity will host Tet, the Vietnamese celebration of the Lunar New Year, from 1 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 28 and March 1 at Hong Kong City Mall, 11205 Bellaire Blvd.

Attractions include a cultural exhibition, game booths, a food court with more than 40 selected vendors and traditional Vietnamese games and opera. Both parking and admission are free.

Chinese New Year Festival 2015

The Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School will host a Lunar New Year celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 28 at 6300 Avenue B. The event is free to attend and includes performances from the students, a dragon dance and a bake sale.

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