Orange County’s Lunar New Year celebrations got off to an early start Friday, with the opening of a massive three-day Tết Festival at the county fairgrounds.
The festival is hosted by the nonprofit Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California, which moved the annual celebration to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa several years ago.
At the heart of the festival is a cultural village with exhibits and activities reflecting Vietnamese culture and life. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, an Ancestral Altar Procession will be showcased and at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday a Spring Wedding ceremony will be held.
The weekend also features fun contests, lots of entertainment and food to try, games, exhibitors and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 10; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 11.
Admission is $8; find more information at tetfestival.org.
Saturday, which marks the new year in many Asian communities, will also feature the annual Tết parade in Westminster, starting with an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The parade starts at 9:30 and will travel Bolsa Avenue from Magnolia Street and turn right on Bushard Street, ending at Bishop Place.
The Asian Garden Mall, also in Westminster, will host its Firecracker Celebration at noon with “dazzling fireworks” and traditional dragon dances in its parking lot.
Flower Street on Historic Main Street in Garden Grove will feature day-long street festivals Saturday and Sunday. Main Street will be closed to traffic from Garden Grove Boulevard to Acacia Parkway and will be decorated with floral displays. There will be shopping, lion dances and activities throughout each day.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
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