Year of the Snake: Lunar New Year 2025 in Portland

Lunar New Year 2025 in Portland starts on Wednesday January 29, when we will enter the Year of the Snake—more specifically, the Wood Snake. Here, you can read more about the qualities of this upcoming year with more insight than I could possibly give you. And, as a Monkey myself, it’s nice to read that “those born in the Years of the Rat, Monkey, Rooster, Horse and Dragon should experience good luck.”

Here are some ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Portland and surrounding areas.

Chinese Chinese New Year Cultural Fair

Head to the Oregon Convention Center on Saturday, February 1, for the Chinese New Year Cultural Fair to welcome the Year of the Snake. Along with a variety of Asian food vendors from myriad regions “offering delicious and exotic flavors for you to sample,” there will also be  Lion Dance, folk dances, instrumental music, calligraphy, martial arts demonstrations, and children’s games. Additionally, there will be retail and services booths. This is a family-friendly event.

777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland. Chinese New Year Cultural Fair event website

CORE

The Lunar New Year market at CORE started Wednesday, January 15 but continues to Sunday, February 9. During this time you can experience:

• An interactive Lunar New Year photo backdrop and props
• Bonsai displays— flowering and fruiting trees from Asia
• Authentic Vietnamese food and drinks
• Traditional New Year clothing available for purchase

There will also be what they call “Weekend Highlights,” which include performances, vendors, and activities. Stay tuned to the CORE Instagram page for updated details on that.

3612 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland. CORE website

Delicious Donuts + HeyDay + Mike Bennett Art

From Delicious Donuts: “This Lunar New Year we are celebrating the year of the snake with our friends Mike Bennett Art, and Heyday Donuts.” This Tet Box, which costs $20, contains:

• Three raised rounds
• Three Heyday donuts: black sesame matcha, passionfruit, and ube. Add $0.25 each for filling: lemon/raspberry/Bavarian cream (up to 2)
• Two of Mike Bennet’s snake stickers
• Li-Xi (lucky money).

Pre-order your box of donuts by Monday, January 27 via text at 503-888-8648. Pick up from Wednesday, January 29 to Saturday, February 1 at Delicious Donuts.

12 SE Grand Avenue, Portland. Delicious Donuts website

Fubonn

This excellent Asian grocery store in the Fubonn mall (deemed the largest Asian mall in Oregon) offers traditional Lunar New Year foods and decorations.

2850 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland. Fubonn website

Friends Share Community Space

On February 1, they are hosting a Lunar New Year Celebration. “Bring your friends and family as we honor the seasonal transition and welcome the Year of the Snake.” There will be traditional foods, drinks, a community ancestral altar, gifts, and more.

14814 SE Powell Blvd, Portland. Friends Share Community Space Instagram page

Kolectivo

Just as they did last year, the good folks at Kolectivo will celebrate with a Tét Lunar New Year event on Friday, January 24 from 6pm to 10pm. “FOOD x DRINKS x VENDORS x GAMES” includes snacks and sips by Matta, Annam VL, Heyday, and Portland Cà Phê. There will also be a DJ and vendors.

959 SE Division Street, Portland. Kolectivo website

Lunar New Year Festival with Lakeridge High’s AAPISU

From the event announcement: “Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Lakeridge High School! Join Lakeridge’s Asian American and Pacific Islanders Student Union for a day filled with cultural performances, delicious food, and fun activities. Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions of the Lunar New Year as we ring in the Year of the [Snake].” Admission is free, but please reserve your tickets.

1235 Overlook Drive, Lake Oswego. Eventbrite page

Lan Su Chinese Garden

We can’t talk about Lunar New Year in Portland  without mentioning the Lan Su Chinese Garden. For the Year of the Snake, they are hosting a variety of activities—not many of them involve food, but there is the Yun Shui Teahouse, which is lovely. 

For Lunar New Year at Lan Su, enjoy cultural performances, including a Lion Dance, lantern viewings, calligraphy demos, family craft activities, and more. The full breadth of celebrations, which start on Wednesday, January 29 (the date of the new moon) and goes to Sunday February 23, can be found on the Lan Su website. 

239 NW Everett Street, Portland. Lan Su Chinese Garden website

Mestizo

Sunday, January 26 is an opportunity to attend a fundraising dinner at Mestizo to benefit Growing Gardens, which focuses on “Growing food in schools, backyards, and correctional facilities to cultivate healthy, equitable communities.” This is a “culinary journey that honors tradition, innovation, and the power of community.”

The menu is a plant-based seven-course meal featuring a panoply of pan-Asian chefs: Chef Thuy Pham from Mama Đút; Seasonal Cocktails by mixologist Nan Chaison of Mestizo, Libre, Phaya, and Norah; Desserts by Chef Daphne Kauahi’ilani Jenkins of ‘Ono Mau Goods; Amuse Bouche by Chef Jack Nakashima and produce partner is Trang Ho of Masafresh. Entertainment by White Lotus. It is hosted by Waz Wu of Veganizer PDX and Circle V Portland. 

Although the original post says “Donate $200 via the Give Guide for your ticket and secure your seat for this limited engagement,” I would recommend reaching out to Growing Gardens about tickets and availability. Seatings are at 5pm and 8pm.

2910 SE Division Street, Portland. Mestizo website

Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Head to Nong’s on Sunday, January 26 to celebrate Lunar New Year with a Lion dance. This is a great event for kids, plus you can get yourself some tasty khao man gai. Noon at her SW 13th location and 1pm at SE Ankeny.

417 SW 13th Avenue and 609 SE Ankeny Street, Suite C in Portland. Nong’s Khao Man Gai website

Oregon Buddhist Temple

The New Year’s mochi-making demonstrations by the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) will take place on Saturday, January 25 at Oregon Buddhist Temple at either 12:30pm or 2pm. To attend, you must RSVP. This event is free and family-friendly.

That page will also tell you at the bottom, “Ozoni, Japanese New Year’s Soup, will be available for purchase at the Mochistuki Demonstration. PRE-ORDERING is encouraged as supplies are limited.$5 per Child—Ozoni with 1 mochi. And $10 per Adult—Ozoni with 2 mochi and 2 New Year sides of your choice.”

3720 SE 34th Avenue, Portland. JACL website

Phin Cà Phê 

Join them at both their Beaverton and Portland locations for Chợ Tết, a Lunar New Year market. Beaverton’s will be on Saturday and Sunday, January 18 and 19; Portland on Saturday and Sunday, January 25 and 26.

11906 SE Division Street, Portland and 3905 SW 117th Avenue, Suite G, Beaverton. Phin Cà Phê Instagram

Shun Fat Supermarket

The White Lotus invites you to celebrate Lunar New Year at Shun Fat Supermarket and support Portland’s diverse AAPI community. There will be lots of delicious food and drink, as well as local AAPI vendors. 

Join the celebration on Saturday and Sunday, February 15 and 16 from noon to 9pm on SE 82nd Avenue. And on top of the food, drink, and culture, “money raised through vendor fees and donations will go directly to support the launch of the White Lotus Scholarship—coming Spring 2025!” 

5253 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland. SF Supermarket website

Small Eats

Join this Taiwanese breakfast and street food stall as they pop-up at Nonavo Pizza on January 26, February 2 and 9 (all Saturdays). Their menu is an “interpretation of some very classic Lunar New Year dishes,” and some of the ingredient are sourced from Taiwan, acquired on their most recent trip there.

They recommend you pre-order—DM on Instagram, email small eatsvancouver@gmail.com, or text 360-440-0652 to reserve. The full menu is $150 and serves two persons. Vegetarian options are available.

110 W 6th Street, Vancouver WA. Small Eats Instagram page

Twisted Croissant

Their Char Siu croissant is back for Lunar New Year! It is inspired by Cantonese-style barbecue pork buns. The flaky pastry is filled with three-day marinated char siu stir-fried in a rich Chinese BBQ sauce, topped with toasted sesame seeds and pickled green onions. You can find it until Friday, February 28 at all locations.

Various locations. Twisted Croissant website

Uwajimaya

This popular Beaverton Asian grocery store will be holding their annual Lunar New Year sale from Wednesday, January 22 to Tuesday, February 4, with discounts and special offers, including if you spend $40 or more, you can receive a lucky red envelope card. Stop by for the Lion Dance on Sunday, February 2 at 1:30 pm. 

10500 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton. Uwajimaya website

Additional resources: Asian American Town’s list of Lunar New Year events and this 2023 article by Katherine Chew Hamilton on Lunar New Year foods in Portland.

Washington Square Mall Lunar New Year Celebration

This annual celebration at Summit Court includes traditional crafts, arts, and performances, a chance to make a wish on the Wishing Tree, and more. Din Tai Fung is in the mall, and is a very popular spot, so make your reservations (via Yelp) sooner than later. Festivities are Saturday, February 8 from 11am to 4pm.

9585 SW Washington Square Road, Portland. Washington Square Lunar New Year event page 

Wok’n Guys + Yvette Chau

On Wednesday, January 29 there will be a special dinner at Wok’n Guys in Beaverton, in partnership with influencer Yvette Chau. It will included traditional Korean Lunar New Year foods such as tteokguk and mung bean pancakes along with the existing wok’n guys menu. Tickets to enter are free but the meal is priced a la carte. At the writing of this article, the only open time is 4pm. Reserve tickets here.

4655 SW Griffith Drive, #115, Beaverton. Wok N’ Guys Instagram page

Updated January 25, 2025.