Lunar New Year 2025: The Year of the Snake
Lunar New Year on Wednesday, January 29, ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake! Enjoy one of the many events around the Bay Area to celebrate.
BAY AREA – Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is a joyous and vibrant celebration that marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year. It is a time when families come together to honor their ancestors and welcome good fortune for the upcoming year. One of the most significant aspects of this festival is the use of the color red in decorations, which symbolizes luck, happiness and prosperity in Chinese culture. By adorning homes and streets with red lanterns, paper cutouts and more, it is believed that you can ward off evil spirits and invite positive energy into your life. Red envelopes filled with money, known as lai see or hóngbāo, are also given as a gesture of good luck for the new year.
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, and those born during this year are said to be rational, calm, thoughtful and loyal to loved ones. If you were born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013, you’re also a “snake”!
Lunar New Year 2025
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Lunar New Year Events in the Bay Area
Blackhawk Museum: Into China
Celebrate the New Year with a visit to the Blackhawk Museum’s acclaimed gallery featuring many fine handcrafted masterpieces representing China’s enormous scale and rich history.
Year-Round
Blackhawk Museum, Danville
For more information, visit BlackhawkMuseum.org
Photo: Blackhawk Museum
Lunar New Year Bingo – San Ramon
Saturday, January 25, 2025
12:30 – 4pm
Alcosta Senior and Community Center, San Ramon
For more information, visit SanRamonRecGuide.com.
Lunar New Year Celebration – Pleasanton
Saturday, January 25, 2025
1 – 3pm
Pleasanton Senior Center, Pleasanton
FirehouseArts.org/Celebrations
Photo: City of Pleasanton
San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
In addition to the annual parade, this month-long celebration features a Flower Market Fair, the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant and Coronation Ball, the Basketball Jamboree and more!
January 25 – March 2, 2025
San Francisco
For more information, visit ChineseParade.com/Events-Calendar.
Lunar New Year Celebration in Livermore
Head to the Bankhead Plaza in Livermore for a free community event celebrating the Year of the Wood Dragon with demonstrations, performances and arts for the entire family.
Sunday, February 2, 2025
10am – 2pm
Bankhead Plaza, Livermore
For more information, visit LivermoreArts.org.
