If you’ve lived in Atlanta long enough, you know we don’t need an excuse to celebrate—but Lunar New Year is one of my favorite reasons. From February 17 through March 1, communities across metro Atlanta will ring in the Year of the Horse—specifically the Fire Horse, a combination that only comes around every 60 years and symbolizes energy, creativity, and bold forward movement. I can’t help but love that symbolism for our city right now.
Lunar New Year (sometimes called Spring Festival, Seollal in Korea, or Tết in Vietnam) is observed across multiple Asian cultures. Traditions vary, but the heart of it is the same: gathering with family, honoring ancestors, welcoming prosperity, and starting fresh. Think red lanterns for good fortune, house cleanings to sweep away last year’s bad luck, and symbolic foods like whole fish for abundance and dumplings shaped like ancient silver ingots for wealth.
And in true Atlanta fashion, we celebrate it well.
Lunar New Year Dinners Around Atlanta
If you’re looking for a special night out:
-
Ruby Chow’s (Old Fourth Ward) is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration on February 17 with a curated menu, cocktails, and live entertainment.
-
JenChan’s (Cabbagetown) is offering a themed menu February 17–22 featuring prosperity dumplings, whole fish, and longevity noodles.
Festivals & Community Celebrations
Atlanta really shines with its larger community events:
-
Stone Mountain Park (Feb. 14–March 1, weekends) hosts a large-scale Lunar New Year festival with lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, parades, food vendors, and evening light shows.
-
Atlantic Station (Feb. 21) will feature lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, and family-friendly festivities.
-
Atlanta Chinatown in Chamblee (Feb. 21–22) is celebrating the Year of the Horse with live performances, food, and arts activities.
-
Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival in Chamblee (Feb. 21–22) includes traditional dances, crafts, and a Taiwanese-style night market.
-
Johns Creek (Feb. 21) will host a free community celebration with performances and vendors.
-
Decatur’s Pan-Asian Festival (March 1) brings together over 50 food and craft vendors, with proceeds supporting Asian American Voices for Education.
As a realtor, I always tell clients that what makes Atlanta special isn’t just the square footage or the skyline—it’s the culture woven into our neighborhoods. From Duluth’s thriving dining scene to Chamblee’s growing international community, Lunar New Year celebrations highlight the diversity that continues to shape where people want to live.
If the Year of the Fire Horse is about transformation and momentum, Atlanta feels right on time.
However you’re celebrating, I hope the year ahead brings prosperity, connection, and a little boldness in chasing what’s next.
