Lunar New Year is soon. Here’s where to celebrate the Year of the Dragon around Tacoma

Tacoma’s Lincoln District and Asia Pacific Cultural Center, as well as the Waterfront Market in Ruston, will celebrate Lunar New Year with free, family-friendly, food-packed events.

Head to Lincoln Feb. 11 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for the annual street festival. Then, on Feb. 24 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., APCC hosts its popular event at Tacoma Dome with a roster of food, drink, live entertainment, educational and family-friendly activities. (Metro Parks Tacoma hosted its event Jan. 28 at the Eastside Community Center.) That Sunday, Feb. 25, the Waterfront Market at Ruston will also have Lunar New Year fun.

For both the Chinese New Year and Vietnamese Tet, 2024 is the year of the dragon, the fifth animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac. The fiery creature is considered powerful and vivacious with the strongest sense of self among its peers — including last year’s rabbit and next year’s snake.

Lunar New Year, officially Feb. 10 this year, commemorates the first new moon of the lunar calendar, lasting up to 16 days. The 2024 festival culminates Feb. 24 with a lantern festival, known as yuan xiao jie in Mandarin. Marking the end of winter and the coming of spring, it’s a period to tidy both your physical surroundings and your mental, emotional well-being. It’s also an opportunity to wipe old debts and whisk away bad fortunes.

The holiday is particularly notable in Washington state, where more than 10 percent of residents are of Asian heritage, second only to California, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center analysis. State lawmakers last year considered a bill to add Lunar New Year to the list of state holidays, a prospect that was recently re-upped in Olympia.

For decades Tacomans have gathered in the Lincoln International District to ring in the new year. Restaurants fill up with customers slurping hot bowls of pho and snacking on banh mi, while traditional lion dancers maneuver down 38th Street — closed to vehicle traffic through the late afternoon — and weave in and out of neighborhood businesses, scattering lucky red envelopes.

In recent years, the Lincoln District Business Association has partnered with Vien Dong and VK Viet Kitchen to host the event. Look also for pop-up vendors and food trucks, as well as vintage and arts vendors.

The APCC event celebrates Asian culture beyond Chinese New Year and Tet, with booths and performances representing more than two dozen countries. Each year spotlights one — 2024 welcomes Taiwan.

It’s also the 21st season for Tacoma’s unusual Monkeyshine tradition. Keep your eyes peeled for one of more than 2000 glass objects with unique dragon-inspired designs, all created by local artists and produced at Tacoma Glassblowing Studio.

LINCOLN DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR

▪ When: Sunday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., lincolndistrict.org/events

▪ Where: South 38th Street from South Thompson to Tacoma Avenue South

▪ What to know: free annual street festival with pop-up food vendors, restaurant specials (cash or card), traditional lion dancers and firecrackers, plus arts vendors, music, kids activities and photo booths

▪ Parking: free at Lincoln High School lot (South 37th and Park Avenue South), plus street parking where available

APCC NEW YEAR AT TACOMA DOME

▪ When: Saturday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., asiapacificculturalcenter.org/newyearcelebration

▪ Where: Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St.

▪ What to know: free annual celebration with tons of food (cash or card), performances, music, dancing, family activities, crafts, art for purchase and more

▪ Parking & Entry: must pass through security to enter (clear bag policy not applicable, but backpacks and large bags discouraged), no outside food or drink; paid parking in Dome lots, free street parking where available

LUNAR NEW YEAR AT WATERFRONT MARKET - RUSTON

▪ When: Sunday, Feb. 25, 12-6 p.m. (performances at 2 p.m.)

▪ Where: Waterfront Market, 5101 Yacht Club Rd.

▪ What to know: free celebration with food, music, dragon dancing and parade, face painting booths and more

▪ Parking: paid street and garage parking available, or walk from nearby areas including Dune Peninsula

This story was originally published January 30, 2024 at 5:00 AM.