Disney California Adventure Celebrates Lunar New Year with Cultural Festivities

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disney California Adventure is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a vibrant festival that honors Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures. The event, which began Friday and runs through Feb. 16, features a mix of traditional and contemporary entertainment, unique culinary offerings, and special performances.

Among the highlights is the Snake Sourdough Bread, a whimsical creation at Aunt Cass Cafe, and Chocolate Firecrackers at Lucky 8 Lantern, a marketplace drawing large crowds. The festival also includes Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, a water short titled “Hurry Home — A Lunar New Year Celebration,” and performances by groups like the Korean-American a cappella pop group Vocal Seoul and traditional dancers from Kim Eung Hwa & the Korean Dance Academy.

Disneyland Resort chef Daniel “Duke” Brown praised the creativity of the culinary team, particularly for the Chocolate Firecrackers. “Firecrackers bring excitement to people,” Brown said. “We want to push the boundaries on how we can make things more fun, more innovative.”

The festival’s food offerings range from baos and chicken wings to a whole bass, symbolizing prosperity in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures. A sip-and-savor pass allows guests to sample dishes like Mickey Mouse-shaped strawberry milk tea macarons and spicy Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles.

Entertainment includes a six-minute preshow for “World of Color — One,” featuring the story of Little Lantern and an original score by Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun. The preshow concludes with a grand finale projecting a large red snake to celebrate 2025 as the Year of the Snake.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse are also joining the festivities, dressed in Korean-inspired costumes. The event showcases a blend of cultural traditions and modern innovations, making it a must-see for visitors.