Cross-cultural celebrations and treats abound at Elk Grove’s Lunar New Year festival
While others were out to brunch or quiet picnics to take in Valentine’s Day with their romantic partners, those at Elk Grove Park strolled past lion dancers and food vendors as the city celebrated the Lunar New Year.
The Lunar New Year begins Tuesday. Known as Tet in Vietnamese culture, the holiday marks the start of the lunar calendar year.
Tido Hoang, president of the Vietnamese American Community of Sacramento, said Elk Grove has become central to the community’s identity over the past 50 years.
“Elk Grove is a big part of our community in terms of our identity, our sense of integration, how connected it is,” he said. “Little Saigon is where we started all these years and the Elk Grove is really an extension of Little Saigon, just further south.”
Hoang said the event is meant to bring people together across cultures.
“Elk Grove in South Sacramento is, you know, a community of immigrants, community of people who embrace and love us because if it wasn’t the case we wouldn’t be where we’re at,” he said. “A lot of us are achieving our own American dream because of that embrace and welcoming and an opportunity that we had in my 50 years.”
Vendors lined the park Saturday, selling everything from jewelry and toys to Korean corn dogs and boba drinks. The festival also featured carnival-style rides, including bounce houses and a Ferris wheel for children.
Jayden Arger said she views the new year as a year of new opportunities. For her, that included the chance to explore the festival’s offerings.
“I love seeing all the different types of vendors at this festival,” she said. “I love that they had Korean corn dogs. They are always so delicious.”
Jackie Nguyen said she was proud to see her culture celebrated in her hometown.
“It’s great to come back to my hometown and see my culture being celebrated and diversity being spoken about, especially in a time right now with the, you know, current climate of the world,” she said. “It’s great that Elk Grove’s coming out here, bringing people together of all cultures and backgrounds to bring out the good.”
This year marks the Year of the Fire Horse, the 43rd combination in the traditional sexagenary cycle, which repeats every 60 years. The last Fire Horse year occurred in 1966.
In Japan, the Fire Horse year, known as Hinoe-Uma, has historically carried superstition. According to reporting by The New York Times, births in 1966 fell sharply amid a belief that girls born in a Fire Horse year would bring misfortune to their future husbands.
The celebration continues 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elk Grove Park.
This story was originally published February 14, 2026 at 5:11 PM.
