How to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Atlanta
Last Updated February 6, 2026
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Chinese New Year, celebrated on Feb. 17, 2026, is one of the most important festivals in China. It marks the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, and in 2026 ushers in the Year of the Horse. Chinese New Year also is known as Lunar New Year.
Atlanta’s diverse culture, international shopping and dining scene creates an opportunity to feel and experience the vibe and culture of Asia during Chinese New Year. Here are some fun activities and things to do during Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse.
Events
Atlantic Station Celebrates
Atlantic Station invites the public to a Lunar New Year Celebration on Feb. 21 from 3 to 7 p.m., on the Green. Things to do include: color-your-own Lunar New Year magnet, jewelry from Hot Links, boba from Boba Mocha, mahjong lessons with Metro Mahjong, food from NaanStop, dumplings from Ronlaire and complimentary tarot readings based on your Chinese zodiac sign. There will be a movie, lion dances, and kung fu and tai chi performances.
Stone Mountain Park Plans Lunar New Year Festival
Stone Mountain Park will host the park’s fourth annual Lunar New Year Festival Feb. 14 through March 1, 2026. The festival will pay tribute to the culture and New Year’s traditions of Korea, China, Vietnam and other countries that follow the lunar calendar. The festival will include a Lunar New Year drone and light show, a lighted parade, cultural craft activities and live entertainment.
City of Decatur to Celebrate Lunar New Year
The Decatur Lunar New Year Festival is set for March 1, 1026. There will be food, performances and a marketplace. All proceeds benefit Asian American Voices for Education. The event will be held at the Ebster Courtyard at Beacon Municipal Center.
Chamblee Plans Lunar New Year Celebration
The city of Chamblee plans the Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival for Feb. 21 and 22, 2026. at the Culture Center of TECO.
Johns Creek to Honor Lunar New Year
The city of Johns Creek will celebrate the Lunar New Year with a family-friendly event that embraces cultural diversity. The event will be held Feb. 21, 2026, from noon until 4 p.m. at the Atlanta Athletic Club Fields.
Restaurants and Supermarkets
Unbelibubble Ekiben
Enjoy traditional Asian dishes like chicken poppers and tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes at Unbelibubble Ekiben, with several locations in Atlanta. There are arcade games year-round, but in honor of Lunar New Year, the prizes include red envelopes. In Chinese culture, the red envelopes symbolize good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Northern China Eatery
Lunar New Year decorations fill Northern China Eatery. Try the xiaolongbao, which are steamed soup dumplings, or pan fried pot stickers. Dumplings are a classic Chinese New Year dish that represent the blessing of fortune and good luck. When making dumplings, the filling is sealed inside the dough symbolizing the blocking of bad luck.
Han II Kwan
This MICHELIN-recommended restaurant serves Tteok Mandutguk, which is rice cakes with dumpling soup, and LA Galbi, which is LA style grilled beef short ribs. In Korea, Tteokguk is a traditional dish eaten on Korean Lunar New Year and represents getting a year older. The traditional decorations at the restaurant reflect the beauty of traditional Korean houses.
Shop Asian Supermarkets
From Buford Highway Farmers Market to Great Wall Supermarket in Duluth, you can always find the perfect place to shop for exotic ingredients and international flavors.
Serve Foods that Bring Good Luck
With special symbolism and meanings of wealth, happiness, longevity and reunion, foods like fish, dumplings, spring rolls, rice cakes and noodles are common for a Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. In addition to these lucky foods, you can also find fresh East Asian ingredients and soup base for hot pot, a popular Chinese cooking method perfect for a family or friends’ reunion.
Decorations and Traditions
Red decorations and tiger-relevant elements are necessary to make your home festive. Some classic decorations are red lanterns, New Year couplets, paper cuttings of a tiger, red paper with a Chinese character of Fu “福” (fortune) and tiger crafts. Red packets (envelopes) make perfect gifts for your close family and friends. Get a full stack of red packets from the supermarkets at a low price (Insider tip: Some Asian markets even give them away for free with purchase). Before handing out the red packets to your kids, parents or friends on New Year’s Eve, put some money, known as lucky money, into the red packets as it represents wrapping a year of good fortune and blessings in the packets to your loved ones.
Try out some popular Chinese treats and snacks for the New Year including sweet rice cakes, ginger candies, peanuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
Sweep and Decorate your Home
Get prepared for the New Year by cleaning your home and decorating it with red decorations one week ahead. Remember to sweep the floors, furniture, walls and every corner of your home as it means sweeping out the bad luck from the past year and welcoming the upcoming good luck. Similarly, display the red decorations on your doors and walls as they frighten the bad luck away and deliver best wishes.
Order Authentic Chinese Takeout
Want to enjoy an authentic, festive and flavorful Chinese meal on New Year’s Eve? You can’t go wrong on Buford Highway. Here are some Chinese restaurants organized by cuisine and cooking style along the famous Buford Highway.
- Hot pot: China Hot Pot, Good Harvest
- Chinese barbecue: Crazy Skewers
- Noodle: LanZhou Ramen
- Szechuan, spicy: J-Bistro, Yummy Spicy
- Southern Chinese food, non-spicy: Bo Bo Garden, Canton House, Dim Sum Heaven
- Northern Chinese food: Northern China Eatery
Listen to Chinese New Year Songs
During the Chinese New Year, you can always hear joyful and catchy songs everywhere in China. Check your favorite music source for classic and festive Chinese New Year songs to play while celebrating the New Year at home.
Stroll through Spring Colors
In southern China, flower markets usually open three days ahead of the Chinese New Year. They kick off the holiday season and bring the festive spirit with colorful displays of flowers, food stalls, zodiac animal-related crafts and souvenirs. Families or friends visit the flower markets together, purchase auspicious flowers and plants for good wishes for the upcoming New Year.
As a flower market alternative in Atlanta, visit Atlanta Botanical Garden‘s Orchid Daze, the garden’s annual celebration of its signature plant collection, which runs from Feb. 14 through April 12, 2026. Opened in 2002, the Fuqua Orchid Center was the first conservatory in the country designed specifically to house, display and support orchids. The garden also plays a key role in orchid conservation efforts, conducting research and working to preserve endangered and difficult-to-cultivate species.
Don’t forget to check this list to find out other locations to see spring colors in Atlanta.
Enjoy Fireworks Safely
Nothing beats the excitement and enjoyment of watching colorful fireworks lighting up the sky. With family and friends around on New Year’s Eve, it’s a great time to enjoy beautiful fireworks together. Order some fireworks and firecrackers online or purchase at stores. Launch them safely from your backyard and make a good wish for the New Year.
For further adventure, Explore Excellent Asian Experiences at These Atlanta Restaurants.
Originally Published January 24, 2025
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