The Year of the Fire Horse gallops into the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, bringing with it a spectacular lineup of celebrations that blend ancient traditions with contemporary cultural vibrancy. From glowing lantern displays to thunderous dragon dances, Portland and Vancouver are rolling out the red carpet for one of the most energetic and auspicious years in the Chinese zodiac.

Whether you're deeply connected to Lunar New Year traditions or simply curious about experiencing this vibrant cultural celebration, the Portland-Vancouver metro area offers an impressive array of events throughout February and early March. Here's your comprehensive guide to celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse in style.

What Makes the Year of the Fire Horse Special?

In Chinese astrology, the Fire Horse year occurs only once every 60 years, making 2026 particularly significant. Those born in the Year of the Horse are known for their energy, independence, and adventurous spirit—qualities amplified by the fire element, which brings passion, dynamism, and transformative power.

The Fire Horse year is associated with bold changes, creative breakthroughs, and spirited pursuits. It's considered an auspicious time for taking risks, pursuing dreams, and embracing transformation—themes you'll see reflected throughout the region's Lunar New Year celebrations.

Major Celebrations in Portland

Lunar New Year at Lan Su Chinese Garden

Dates: February 18–March 8, 2026

Location: Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett St, Portland

Price: Check lansugarden.org for current admission rates and special evening ticketing

For nearly three weeks, Portland's beloved Lan Su Chinese Garden transforms into an illuminated wonderland celebrating Lunar New Year traditions. This multi-week celebration features:

Glowing lantern sculptures from China: Authentic handcrafted lanterns depicting traditional motifs, zodiac animals, and contemporary designs illuminate the garden's pathways, pavilions, and water features
Zodiac animal light show: A rotating display highlighting all twelve zodiac animals, with special emphasis on the Horse and its Fire element symbolism
Live dragon dance processions: Traditional lion and dragon dancers bring movement and energy to the garden's tranquil spaces during special performance times
Extended evening hours: Special lantern viewing evenings allow visitors to experience the garden after dark when the illuminated displays are most magical
Cultural workshops and demonstrations: Opportunities to learn about traditional crafts, calligraphy, paper cutting, and other Lunar New Year customs

The Lan Su celebration is particularly family-friendly and offers a more intimate, contemplative way to experience Lunar New Year traditions. The garden's authentic Suzhou-style architecture—built by artisans from Portland's sister city—provides a genuinely immersive cultural experience that transports visitors to classical Chinese garden traditions.

Don't miss the Tower of Cosmic Reflections, which takes on special significance during the lantern festival, and be sure to visit the Tao of Tea teahouse for traditional refreshments that complement your cultural journey.

Chinese New Year Cultural Fair at Oregon Convention Center

Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026

Time: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Location: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland

Price: Check event website for current admission information

This annual cultural fair has grown into one of the region's largest Lunar New Year celebrations, offering six hours of continuous programming that spans traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. The fair's expansive format allows for simultaneous activities across multiple areas:

Performance stages: Rotating schedules of lion dances, folk music ensembles, martial arts demonstrations, traditional opera excerpts, and contemporary dance
Children's activity zones: Hands-on crafts, games, face painting, storytelling sessions, and interactive cultural education designed for young participants
Cultural exhibition halls: Displays exploring Chinese art, calligraphy, regional traditions, immigration history, and contemporary Chinese-American contributions to the Pacific Northwest
Food vendors: Authentic regional Chinese cuisine, traditional Lunar New Year specialties, and popular street food favorites
Marketplace: Vendors selling traditional crafts, clothing, decorations, imported goods, and Lunar New Year gift items

The Cultural Fair excels at offering something for every age and interest level. Families appreciate the dedicated children's programming, while adults can dive deep into specific cultural traditions through workshops and demonstrations. The Oregon Convention Center's proximity to MAX light rail makes it easily accessible from throughout the metro area.

Portland Chinatown Museum Dragon Dance Parade

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026

Time: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Location: Begins at the Portland Chinatown Museum, 127 NW 3rd Ave, Portland

Price: Free to watch (museum admission separate)

Mark your calendars for this beloved annual tradition entering its 10th year. The Portland Chinatown Museum Dragon Dance Parade has become a cultural cornerstone, celebrating Portland's Chinese heritage while educating broader communities about Lunar New Year traditions.

The parade's centerpiece is an awe-inspiring 150-foot dragon that requires dozens of performers to manipulate. This magnificent creation winds through Portland's historic Chinatown district, accompanied by:

Lion dance troupes: Multiple teams performing traditional lion dances with acrobatic movements, dramatic music, and audience interaction
"Plucking the Green" ritual: A traditional lion dance ritual performed at local businesses to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year
Musical ensembles: Drummers, cymbal players, and traditional instrumentalists providing the rhythmic soundtrack
Cultural performances: Additional dancers, martial artists, and performers celebrating Chinese traditions
Community participation: Local organizations, youth groups, and community members joining the celebration

The parade route through Old Town/Chinatown allows spectators to experience Portland's historic Chinese neighborhood, which despite significant changes over the decades, maintains important cultural landmarks and community institutions. The Portland Chinatown Museum itself offers excellent context for understanding the neighborhood's history and the evolution of Chinese-American communities in Oregon.

Arrive early to secure good viewing spots along the parade route, and consider visiting the museum before or after the parade to deepen your understanding of the traditions you're witnessing.

Vancouver, Washington Celebrations

Lunar New Year Celebration with Vancouver Chinese Association

Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026

Time: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Location: Vancouver Community Library, Columbia Room, 901 C St, Vancouver, WA

Price: Free

Cross the Columbia River to Vancouver, Washington, for this welcoming, family-friendly celebration hosted by the Vancouver Chinese Association. This free event demonstrates the strong cultural connections that transcend state borders in our metro area.

The six-hour celebration features:

Traditional Chinese music performances: Live musicians playing classical and folk instruments, explaining the cultural significance of different musical traditions
Storytelling sessions: Age-appropriate tales from Chinese folklore, zodiac legends, and Lunar New Year traditions that help children and adults understand the holiday's deeper meanings
Hands-on crafts: Paper lantern making, calligraphy practice, paper cutting, zodiac animal crafts, and other activities where participants create take-home mementos
Cultural education: Information about Lunar New Year customs, the Chinese zodiac, traditional foods, and how different Asian cultures celebrate the new year
Community connection: Opportunities to meet local Chinese-American community members, learn about cultural organizations, and build cross-cultural understanding

The Vancouver Community Library's Columbia Room provides a comfortable, accessible venue with ample space for activities, performances, and mingling. The library's central location near downtown Vancouver makes it easy to combine your Lunar New Year celebration with other downtown activities, and the free admission removes financial barriers for families wanting to participate.

This event particularly excels at creating educational opportunities for families with children, offering context and hands-on experiences that make cultural traditions meaningful and memorable for young participants.

Additional Ways to Celebrate Lunar New Year in the Portland-Vancouver Area

Beyond these major organized events, the Portland-Vancouver metro area offers numerous other ways to experience Lunar New Year traditions:

Restaurant Celebrations and Special Menus

Many Chinese restaurants throughout the region offer special Lunar New Year menus featuring traditional lucky foods. Look for dishes incorporating:

Whole fish: Symbolizing abundance and surplus
Dumplings: Shaped like ancient Chinese currency, representing wealth
Long noodles: Symbolizing longevity and long life
Spring rolls: Resembling gold bars, representing prosperity
Sweet rice balls (tang yuan): Representing family unity and togetherness

Asian Grocery Markets

Visit local Asian markets like Fubonn, H Mart, or 99 Ranch Market to experience the pre-holiday shopping atmosphere. These markets stock special Lunar New Year goods including:

Decorations and red envelopes (hongbao)
Traditional sweets and specialty foods
Fresh flowers with auspicious meanings (pussy willow, peach blossoms, kumquat trees)
Ingredients for cooking traditional Lunar New Year dishes at home

Community Cultural Centers

Organizations like the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Portland Chinatown History Foundation, and various Asian cultural centers often host smaller community gatherings, workshops, and educational programs throughout the Lunar New Year season.

Planning Your Lunar New Year Experience

With celebrations spanning from late January through early March, you can create your own Lunar New Year journey by attending multiple events:

Early February: Start with the Vancouver Chinese Association's free family event (February 1) or the grand Keller Auditorium performance (January 31)
Mid-February: Experience the actual Lunar New Year date (February 17) at local restaurants, then visit Lan Su Chinese Garden's lantern festival (opens February 18)
Late February: Attend the comprehensive Cultural Fair at Oregon Convention Center (February 28)
Early March: Cap off the celebration season with the Dragon Dance Parade in Chinatown (March 7)

This approach allows you to experience different aspects of Lunar New Year traditions—from intimate cultural workshops to grand performances to community parades—creating a comprehensive understanding of how this important holiday is celebrated.

Tips for First-Time Lunar New Year Celebration Attendees

Dress in layers: Indoor events can be warm with large crowds, while outdoor parades may be chilly in February and March
Arrive early: Popular events like the dragon parade and lantern evenings at Lan Su can draw large crowds; early arrival ensures better viewing and parking
Bring cash: Many vendors at cultural fairs and markets prefer cash transactions
Ask questions: Event organizers and cultural practitioners are typically enthusiastic about sharing traditions with curious newcomers
Respect cultural protocols: Follow any guidance about photographing performances, participating in activities, or handling cultural items
Support authentically: Purchase from vendors directly connected to the cultures being celebrated
Extend learning beyond events: Use celebrations as starting points for deeper exploration of Chinese history, culture, and contributions to the Pacific Northwest

Why Lunar New Year Matters to Our Community

The Pacific Northwest has a rich history of Asian immigration and cultural contribution dating back to the mid-1800s. Chinese immigrants were instrumental in building railroads, developing fishing industries, establishing agricultural operations, and creating vibrant urban communities throughout Oregon and Washington.

Today, Asian Americans represent one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, with Chinese Americans forming a significant portion of this community. Lunar New Year celebrations honor this heritage while creating opportunities for cross-cultural understanding, education, and community building.

These events also demonstrate Portland and Vancouver's commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion—values that strengthen our communities and enrich our collective experience. By participating in Lunar New Year celebrations, regardless of your personal background, you contribute to a community culture that honors diverse traditions and creates space for authentic cultural expression.

Embrace the Energy of the Fire Horse

The Year of the Fire Horse invites us all to embrace transformation, pursue passions, and gallop boldly toward our dreams. The Portland-Vancouver area's robust lineup of Lunar New Year celebrations provides perfect opportunities to absorb this energetic spirit while experiencing rich cultural traditions.

Whether you attend a grand performance at Keller Auditorium, wander through glowing lanterns at Lan Su Chinese Garden, participate in hands-on workshops at the Cultural Fair, cheer for the magnificent dragon parade through Chinatown, or gather with community members in Vancouver, you'll be participating in traditions that have welcomed new years for thousands of years—adapted and celebrated by communities worldwide, now including our own Pacific Northwest home.

So mark your calendars, gather your family and friends, and prepare to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with the energy, enthusiasm, and community spirit it deserves.