Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in San Diego 2016

Firecrackers, dragon dancing, special sweets and of course lucky envelopes. I cannot wait! I've been getting the house ready with red and gold Tet decorations. There is a dragon hanging from the walkway leading into the kitchen and a pair of golden monkeys sitting on the mantle in the living room. Between preparations for Parker's birthday party and Lunar New Year I'm feeling very festive!

Below is a list of Lunar New Year celebrations in San Diego (and a couple in Orange County). Happy Year of the Monkey to all my readers! I hope this year brings you good health, love and prosperity. 

[Monkey by Zen Brush spotted on Etsy]

Lunar New Year at Seaworld
Saturday, January 30 - Sunday, February 21
Seaworld San Diego
Admission: Free for those born in the Year of the Monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1980, 1992 or 2004). Must have valid ID. Only valid February 6-8.
https://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/pages/year-of-the-monkey

House of China Year of the Monkey Celebration
Sunday, January 31
Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
4609 Convoy Street A 92111
Admission: $50
http://www.houseofchinasd.com/

San Diego Library Lunar New Year Celebrations
Wednesday, February 3
4S Ranch Library
San Marcos Library
http://www.sdcl.org/signature-series.html

Barnard Community Chinese New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 6
Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy
2445 Fogg Street 92109
Admission: Free. Carnival ride tickets are an additional cost.
https://www.sandiegounified.org/schools/barnard-asian-pacific-language-academy/lunar-new-year-community-celebration

11th Annual San Diego Tet Festival
Friday, February 12 - Sunday, February 14
Mira Mesa Community Park
8575 New Salem Street 92126
Admission: Free. Carnival ride tickets are an additional cost.
http://www.sdtet.com/

34th Annual San Diego Chinese New year Food and Cultural Fair
Saturday, February 13 - Sunday, February 14
Downtown San Diego
Third Avenue and J Street
Admission: Free
http://sdcny.weebly.com/

If you are willing to drive about an hour north, you can find large lunar new year festivals in Orange County.

2016 OC Tet Festival
Friday, February 12 - Sunday, February 14
Mile Square Park
16801 Euclid Street 92708
Admission: Free
http://www.octetfest.org/

Tet Festival
Friday, February 12 - Sunday, February 14
Admission: $5 for 1-day admission. $13 for 3-day admission.
OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive 92626
http://tetfestival.org/

Now that you've read the list, where will you be celebrating the Year of the Monkey?

Ring in Lunar New Year with this Musical Chinese Pellet Drum Craft

Lunar New Year is quickly approaching and Parker and I are getting into the spirit by creating DIY pellet drums. Pellet drums are double sided with a pellet connected to each side of the drum. To play the drum, you simply turn the stick between your hands and the pellets swing back and forth, hitting drum head. This musical craft is sure to bring lots of luck and noise to your home!

Materials needed

-2 Paper bowls (Paper plates would also work)

-Acrylic paint of your choice (red and gold/yellow are lucky New Year's colors)

-Paintbrush

-Tape

-Hot glue gun/craft glue

-2 Monkey images

-Wooden dowel or chopctick

-String

-2 Wooden or plastic beads

Instructions

1. Paint the exterior side of the bowls and let them dry completely. The drying process will take at least 30 mins depending on how thick you lay on the paint.

[This is the messiest part of the project. Parker was very concerned about the paint on his hands.]

2. Cut out the monkey images and glue them to the face of each plate.

3. Tie the beads to strings that are 2/3 the diameter of the bowl in length. If your bowl is 6 inches in diameter, your string will be 4 inches long. Adhere the end of the strings to each side of the bowl.

4. Adhere the wooden dowel/chopstick to the inside of one of the plates.

5. Attach the 2nd bowl to the first one using a hot glue gun. 

6. We added some fun pom poms to our bowls to give them a little more flair but that is optional. 

I had to reinforce Parker's stick with tape because...well because he is a toddler. Enjoy your new pellet drum! Please tag us (@parkerproject) when you post your pellet drum pictures on Instagram.