Year of the Horse festivities on Feb. 21 will feature cultural entertainment and family activities.
Santa Monica Place will mark Lunar New Year with a public celebration later this month featuring traditional performances, cultural activities, and family programming.
The shopping center’s Center Plaza will host a free Year of the Horse event from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Organizers said the space will be decorated with red and gold lanterns and cherry blossom “Wishing Trees,” creating a festive setting for the afternoon activities.
The weekend’s festivities will begin the evening before with a themed cooking class at The Gourmandise School, located at Santa Monica Place. The “Date Night: Lunar New Year Celebration” class is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20.
Couples will prepare a holiday-inspired menu that includes steamed white fish with ginger-scallion sauce, chicken and chive potstickers, almond cookies, and a Lunar Blossom cocktail. Organizers describe the class as a shared, hands-on culinary experience designed for pairs. You can register for the class here.
Scheduled entertainment includes traditional Chinese lion dances performed by Bruce Wen and The Shaolin Entertainment Group, along with martial arts demonstrations by the LA Wushu Club. Live music and interactive cultural stations are also planned. You can rsvp here.
Visitors can participate in hands-on activities such as Chinese dough art, calligraphy blessings, and children’s crafts. Guests will also be invited to write personal wishes for the coming year and hang them on the decorative wishing trees.
Participating retailers and restaurants throughout Santa Monica Place will offer red envelope-themed promotions during the celebration, according to organizers. Lunar New Year décor, lantern installations, and wishing trees will remain on display from Feb. 12 through March 2.
