SeaWorld San Diego To Celebrate Lunar New Year With 3-Week Festival

SAN DIEGO, CA — SeaWorld San Diego is celebrating Lunar New Year with a three-week festival.

The festival will feature cultural performances, festive décor and authentic Asian cuisine. The event runs on select dates from Jan. 31 through Feb. 16 at the San Diego theme park.

"This year marks the park's most expansive Lunar New Year celebration yet, extending the beloved festival to three weeks as SeaWorld transforms with the sights, sounds and flavors inspired by variety of East Asian cultural traditions," a news release said.

The celebration honors the Year of the Horse, a symbol in the Chinese zodiac traditionally associated with movement, vitality and new beginnings.

The festival will offer special presentations and cultural performances from local community groups, including traditional Japanese Taiko drumming with La Jolla Taiko, as well as lion and dragon dancing from Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society. Lucky red envelopes will be distributed to attendees between cultural presentations in Garden Gate Plaza.

SeaWorld will also have Asian-inspired food and beverage options during the festival. There will be beef chow mein, pork belly bao, Taiwanese popcorn chicken and wonton soup, plus sweet treats such as mango pudding and brick toast. Drink options include Kirin beer, Bivouac pear cider, and the park's signature Orange Blossom Cocktail.

The festival is included with park admission and free for pass members.