North Texas Communities Celebrate Lunar New Year with Festivals and Cultural Events

Filipino and Asian American families can join lion dances, lantern displays, and educational programs across the Dallas-Fort Worth area through February.

By André Averion, Communications Chair

Published February 6th, 2026

North Texas communities are preparing to mark Lunar New Year with public celebrations, cultural programming and family-friendly events, continuing a tradition observed across Asia and the global diaspora. The holiday, which follows the lunar calendar, begins in late January or early February and is widely recognized in the region’s Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Filipino communities.

In 2026, Lunar New Year falls in the middle of February and ushers in the Year of the Horse, a zodiac sign associated in many traditions with energy, perseverance and movement. Across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, community organizations, cities and local businesses are planning festivities that include food, performances and educational activities intended to be open to the broader public.

For Filipino families in North Texas, Lunar New Year carries a distinct history shaped by centuries of cultural exchange. While the Philippines is not traditionally grouped with East Asian countries that formally observe Lunar New Year as a national holiday, its celebration has long been part of Filipino life, particularly in urban centers with strong Chinese Filipino communities.

Chinese migration to the Philippines predates Spanish colonization, with trade relationships documented as early as the ninth century. Over time, Chinese settlers and their descendants, often referred to as Chinese Filipinos, became integrated into Philippine society while maintaining cultural traditions, including Lunar New Year observances. These traditions gradually spread beyond Chinese Filipino communities and became familiar to the wider population.

Historical accounts note that Lunar New Year celebrations in the Philippines often blended Chinese customs with local practices. Family gatherings, shared meals, the exchange of gifts and symbolic foods associated with prosperity became common features, while public celebrations in places such as Manila’s Binondo district drew large crowds. Over time, these practices evolved to reflect both heritage and local context, according to reporting by Philippine and Asian cultural publications.

Today, Lunar New Year in the Philippines is recognized as a special nonworking holiday, reflecting its cultural significance and the country’s long-standing ties to Chinese traditions. Celebrations emphasize themes of renewal, family unity and good fortune, values that resonate broadly across Filipino culture.

In North Texas, these traditions have taken on new meaning for Filipino Americans, many of whom participate in Lunar New Year celebrations alongside other Asian American communities. For families raising children in the region, the holiday often serves as an opportunity to introduce younger generations to shared histories of migration, adaptation and cultural exchange.

The growing scale of Lunar New Year celebrations in North Texas mirrors broader demographic trends. The region is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing Asian American populations in Texas, including a significant Filipino community. As these communities expand, public recognition of cultural holidays has also increased through school programming, city-sponsored events and media coverage.

For many families, participation in Lunar New Year festivities is less about strict religious observance and more about connection. Shared meals, attendance at festivals and participation in community gatherings provide a way to strengthen social ties and maintain cultural continuity in a diaspora setting. This year many events have emphasized accessibility and inclusion, encouraging residents of all backgrounds to attend. Many events are designed to be family-oriented, with activities intended for children as well as adults, reflecting the holiday’s emphasis on intergenerational connection.

The Year of the Horse theme is expected to feature prominently in decorations and performances throughout the region, reinforcing the cyclical nature of the lunar calendar and its role in marking time through symbolic narratives. Educational materials distributed at events often explain the zodiac system and its place within broader Asian cultural traditions.

Lunar New Year events can be found on the PACE calendar and also listed below. 

• Jan. 29–Feb. 28: Galleria Dallas Lantern Festival, featuring nearly 150 illuminated lanterns suspended above the ice rink.
  Feb. 6: Lunar New Year celebration at the Kimbell Art Museum with cultural performances and hands-on art activities.

• Feb. 6–22: 19th annual Lunar New Year celebration at Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie, including vendors, live entertainment, and lion and dragon dances.
  Feb. 7: Frisco Lunar New Year Market Festival with cultural performances, food vendors and family activities.

• Feb. 7: Southlake Spring Festival celebrating East and Southeast Asian cultures.

• Feb. 15: City of Richardson Lunar New Year celebration featuring lion and dragon dances, cultural demonstrations and performances.

• Feb. 21: Lunar New Year Festival at NorthPark Center with a lion dance, Dallas Asian Winds performance and family-friendly crafts.