Celebrate The Lunar New Year With Lion Dancing At San Francisco Public Libraries This Weekend

The Lunar New Year is on February 17, 2026 , and will usher in the Year of the Horse . San Francisco has many exciting events to celebrate the new year, including a flower market, parade, and more cultural celebrations through the coming weeks. The San Francisco public libraries have joined in on the celebrations, partnering with the Jing Mo Athletic Association to host a series of lion dancing performances. The performances will be at libraries throughout the city on Saturday, January 31 , and are family-friendly, drop-in style shows. Check out the full schedule here: Saturday, January 31: * Golden Gate Valley: 10:15 to 11 am * Western Addition: 11:15 to 11:45 am * Bernal Heights: 1 to 2 pm * Eureka Valley: 2 to 2:30 pm * Chinatown: 3:15 to 3:45 pm San Francisco public libraries regularly host community events , including family-friendly story times, educational talks, clubs, and more. For Lunar New Year, other upcoming activities include craft-making on February 15, a tea ceremony on February 1, and a Lunar New Year lantern workshop this Saturday. You can find the full list of events hosted by local libraries here. Lion Dancing is a traditional dance in Chinese culture that is believed to bring good luck . You can see lion dancing in San Francisco throughout the year, often at night markets in Chinatown , or during community celebrations like the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities. Some highlights for this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations include the return of the popular Sunset Night Market, which will feature numerous vendors, live music, and more. The night market is expected to draw large crowds and is free and open to the public on February 27 from 5 to 10 pm . The annual Flower Market will also return to Chinatown on February 14 and 15 with fresh flowers, decorations, and candies. Finally, the beloved parade will take place on March 7 , with a lively community street fair all weekend. Source: https://secretsanfrancisco.com/san-francisco-libraries-lion-dancing/