The city of San Bernardino will be ringing in the Year of the Horse at its third annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at the downtown Court Street Square.
The free family event will feature cultural musical performances, demonstrations, arts and crafts, food vendors, art galleries and much more.
“I’m so proud that our city’s Lunar New Year Festival has grown into a vibrant tradition that brings people of all backgrounds together to celebrate culture, family, and new beginnings,” Mayor Helen Tran said in a statement.
The Court Street Square, located at 349 N. E St. will be transformed by the San Bernardino Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, much like recent celebrations such as the Christmas themed Miracle on Court Street in December and the Dia de los Muertos festival in November.
Organizers said the festivities will include:
- Musical performances and cultural demonstrations, featuring a traditional dragon dance, Chinese flute player, Taiko drummers, a Filipino dance ensemble, and the Indian Springs High School Band.
- Arts and Crafts for the whole family, including creating paper lanterns, dragon puppets, origami, and dragon ornaments.
- Multiple staged photo areas.
- A gallery highlighting San Bernardino’s Sister Cities from the East.
- More than 40 food vendors and merchants selling goods.
- Community Groups and Sponsor informational booths.
“The Lunar New Year Celebration is fun for the entire family, especially the kids,” Parks and Recreation Director Vanessa Carder said in a statement. “The kids really have a great time, especially watching the dragon dance.”
As part of the annual Lunar New Year tradition, a different animal is recognized on a 12-year rotating cycle with traits and symbols that hold meaning for what’s to come in the new year.
This year marks the Year of the Horse, and the horse will play a featured role in traditional musical performances and throughout the celebration. The horse represents speed, independence, and energy. 2026 is a Fire Horse year, which occurs only once every 60 years and is seen as highly energetic.
“As we welcome the Year of the Horse, may this celebration inspire unity, joy, and forward momentum for San Bernardino and all who call it home,” Tran added.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among Eastern and Southeast Asian cultures. It reflects the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and widely observed throughout Asia and in Asian American communities throughout the United States.
In most countries, the Lunar New Year celebration lasts for 15 days. This year, the celebration runs from Feb. 17 through March 3.
Event sponsors include Lucky Star Marketing, Hiep Thanh, Inland Chinese Association, DAO Real Estate, SB County Dept of Public Health and the Vietnamese American Business Association.
