City to host free Lunar New Year Celebration this weekend

The City of San Bernardino in partnership with California Culture Festival will be ringing in the Year of the Snake at its second annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 1 from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm at the downtown Court Street Square. The free family event will feature cultural musical performances, demonstrations, arts and craft activities, food vendors, art galleries and much more.

“San Bernardino’s Lunar New Year Celebration is a vibrant reflection of our diverse community and a wonderful opportunity to honor the rich traditions and contributions of our Asian American residents,” said Mayor Helen Tran. “It brings us together to celebrate culture, unity, and the shared hope for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead.”

The festivities will include:

• Musical performances and cultural demonstrations, featuring traditional dragon and lion dances.
• Arts and Craft activities for the whole family, featuring Calligraphy, Origami, and Snake puppets.
• Multiple staged photo areas.
• A gallery highlighting San Bernardino’s Sister Cities from the East.
• Food vendors and merchants selling goods.
• Community Groups and Sponsor informational booths.

This year marks the Year of the Snake, and the snake will play a featured role in traditional musical performances and throughout the celebration. The snake signifies charm, transformation, intelligence, and creativity, but can also be associated with mystery, independence, and cautiousness.

Event sponsors include California Culture Festival, DAO Real Estate Group, H&H Lending, Inland Chinese Association, Lucky Star Marketing, MVS, Inc, Hiep Thanh Supermarket.