Where to celebrate Lunar New Year 2025 in North Texas

DALLAS — The Year of the Snake is here! The Lunar New Year is a celebration observed across East Asia to mark the beginning of spring on the lunar calendar. 

Sometimes also referred to as Spring Festival, families traditionally exchange gifts and gather for meals in hopes of bringing good fortune in the new year, typically culminating in dances and lantern festivals.

North Texas will celebrate with a variety of events, including dances and other cultural performances and community gatherings.

The Lunar New Year starts Jan. 29, but some events start earlier, starting Friday, Jan. 17. Here’s a list of events to celebrate the Lunar New Year across DFW.

Lunar New Year events kick off with a banquet on Jan. 17 followed by food, vendors and performers Jan. 17-19 at Asia Times Square. The second weekend, Jan. 24-26 with food and art vendors and performers. Festivities wrap up with a bang with a firecracker event with lion and dragon dance on Feb. 1 and 2.

A Lunar New Year celebration in downtown Plano’s McCall Plaza will run from 12 to 4 p.m. Jan. 25 and feature a lion dance performance, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, a DJ, a balloon artist, a face painter, and more.

NorthPark Center will celebrate the year of the snake with a lion dancer performance by Rising Phoenix at 10 a.m. on Jan. 25, followed by a lion dancer meet-and-greet, a Dallas Asian Winds performance and crafts and activities, including creating paper snakes, Chinese knots, paper lanterns, origami and more.

The Frisco Lunar New Year Market Festival from 3 to 8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Simpson Plaza at 6101 Frisco Square Blvd. will feature lion dances, food vendors, a fashion show, musical performances, red envelopes, and other activities.

There will be live entertainment, food and drinks, and other activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8 at 400 N. Greenville Ave. in Richardson.