Lunar New Year is a celebration of a new year based on the lunar calendar. The festivities span 15 days and are celebrated in many East and Southeast Asian countries, including China, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan, and around the world across the Asian diaspora. Throughout the 15 days, people gather with their families to feast and celebrate traditions to drive away bad luck and welcome prosperity and good fortune in the new year.
Each year of the lunar calendar is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. This year, the Lunar New Year begins on February 17 and commemorates the Year of the Horse, specifically a Fire Horse, which occurs once every 60 years. A Horse Year represents one of wisdom, reflection, and strategic thinking. It also symbolizes energy, freedom, passion, and dynamic change.
Check out these amazing Lunar New Year celebrations in and around Atlanta to welcome in the Year of the Horse!
Lunar New Year Celebration at Aurora Theatre
February 7 | 11:30 am
Aurora Theatre
After a Sold-Out show last year, Atlanta Chinese Dance Company returns to ring in the Year of the Horse with a Lunar New Year Celebration! Join them as they guide you through the holiday. Get ready to experience traditional Chinese music & dance, and even participate in the show! Whether it’s a part of your daily life or you’re brand new to it, embracing and learning about a culture connects us all!
Fortune Run in Atlanta
February 7, 2026
S Peachtree Creek Trail, Atlanta, GA
Don’t miss our Annual Lunar New Year Run! As we kick off this vibrant celebration, we invite you to join us in honoring the rich traditions and cultural heritage of the Lunar New Year. We will have mini lanterns at the finish for you to commemorate your time with.
Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival
February 21-22, 2026
5377 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, GA
The Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival Committee has been holding a large festival event annually for the past 30 years to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The festival includes a dragon dance, a lion dance, and traditional Taiwan night market food, kids’ crafts & hands-on workshops, and more. Tickets can be purchased for $10 before February 16th.
Decatur Lunar New Year
March 1, 2026 | 1-5 pm
Ebster Courtyard at Beacon Municipal
Mark your calendars! Our 5th Annual Pan-Asian Lunar New Year festival will take place on Sunday, March 1st, 2026. We will celebrate with our family & friends, featuring the diverse customs of: Vietnam, South Korea, China, Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines.
Daily Lantern Shows
Nightly during the Lunar New Year | Top of the hour from 5-9 pm
Atlantic Station, Atlantic Green
Please check back for 2026 dates and times.
Stop by Atlantic Station anytime during the Lunar New Year to enjoy their beautiful decor and lantern display. Every day at the top of the hour from 5-9 pm, they run a short lantern show. Check out nearby Urban Hai for authentic Chinese food and some of the best ITP dumplings.
Lunar New Year Festival
Saturdays and Sundays, February 14-March 1 | 4-9 pm
Stone Mountain Park
The 2026 festival will celebrate the Year of the Horse. Stone Mountain Park is proud to host the fourth annual Lunar New Year Festival. This Asian-inspired festival pays tribute to the culture and New Year traditions of Korea, China, Vietnam, and other countries that follow the lunar calendar. It features a special Lunar New Year Drone and Light Show on the largest screen in the world, a lighted parade, cultural craft activities, live entertainment, and other cultural elements.
Lunar New Year Celebration in Johns Creek
February 21, 2026 | 11 am-3 pm
Atlanta Athletic Club Fields
The City of Johns Creek’s Lunar New Year celebration is a family-friendly event that embraces cultural diversity in our community. Commonly known as the Spring Festival in East Asia, the Lunar New Year commemorates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
Whether you celebrate every year or have never celebrated before, the Lunar New Year is a wonderful way to honor family traditions with your kids while also teaching them about fun cultural customs and delicious foods. Check out our post on the Best Chinese Restaurants to set up for a yummy feast of dumplings.
Do you know of any other Lunar New Year celebrations around town or does your family have a favorite tradition? Let us know in the comments how you’ll be welcoming in the Year of the Snake!
