Samantha N. of Covina poses for a photo in a photo booth during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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.
Kim Le Pham of Tustin has her photo take against a backdrop of umbrellas at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lion dancers perform at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Likha Agustin, left, and Penny Shao, both 3, protect their ears from the loud cymbals and drums of the lion dancers during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Celina Ch, left, takes a family selfie with husband John Tran and son Isaac Tran, during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which will celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jillian Pham, 19, center, celebrates after winning the milk tea drinking contest at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nguyen family, from left, Kelly, Trong and Julie, all of Washington DC, pose for in the 360-degree Peek-a-Booth during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eiline Tai, 15, of Irvine has her mother take a photo of her in a photo booth filled with red ribbons at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which will celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lion dancers perform during the opening ceremony at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Volunteers set up an umbrella photo spot for visitors at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Samantha N. of Covina poses for a photo in a photo booth during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California Tet Festival which is celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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.
