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Get ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year in the Tampa Bay area

Water Works Park is ready to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

People carrying a long paper dragon. The animal is orange and there are green plants in the background in Water Works Park.

Lunar New Year has been celebrated for 3,000+ years.

Photo by City of Tampa

The annual Lunar New Year celebration at Water Works Park (1701 N. Highland Ave.) returns on Saturday, Feb. 17. Lunar New Year usually falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20, and is honored by people of various descents, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities.

We rounded up some info for this year’s celebration:

  • The free event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features 20+ food vendors, musical performances, art demonstrations, martial arts, plus a host of souvenirs.
  • There will also be traditional dragon and lion dances.
  • Keep your eyes peeled for a red envelope. Giving one is a wish of good luck for the year ahead.
  • Heads up: The food lines could get pretty long.

If you can’t make it, Armature Works is hosting its own free Lunar New year event on Saturday, Feb. 24, featuring food specials + live performances.

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