The Silicon Valley Lunar New Year Together and Night Market in downtown Santa Clara, welcoming 2026 as the Year of the Horse, was big, colorful, noisy, and joyous. It delivered what it promised—row upon row of ethnic foods, crafts and jewelry vendors, art projects, community booths, photo ops, and, best of all, nonstop entertainment that was hard to tear oneself away from.

The two-day celebration Jan. 31 and Feb.1 was unique in bringing together and bridging multiple Asian cultures, showcasing each.

“This is amazing. It’s a kind of enchanting collaboration, depicting the richness of the multi-cultural inclusivity of the Bay Area,” said Silicon Valley Lunar New Year committee member Satish Chandra Vale.

“We are very happy, showing we all belong in the U.S.A. and want to give back. We want to showcase that we are part of this great and inclusive community. We owe gratitude to this great nation, and we’re bringing positivity and optimism,” said Chandra, who was born in India.

The Saturday opening ceremony featured remarks from celebration sponsors and Silicon Valley dignitaries, a ribbon cutting, lion dance and parade.

“Lunar New Year is not just one cultural holiday—it’s a shared tradition that brings many Asian communities together on one stage,” said Diana Wei Ping Ding, Silicon Valley Lunar New Year Together founder and Silicon Valley Community Media president.

On the entertainment stage, professors of Korean language and culture from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey performed Korean dances with pink-fringed buchae—fans opening to a width of almost three feet. Bollywood Festival of Globe Indian dancers, Filipino dancers, singers, pianists, drummers and martial arts performers—all, in turn, took center stage.

Chinese dancers from the Multiethnic Costume Museum of Dasen American Academy in San Leandro wore unique, traditional dresses with elaborate headpieces. The colorful dresses represented more than 20 of China’s 56 ethnic groups.

“This is beyond my wildest dreams!” said Santa Clara Council Member Suds Jain, dressed in the attire of his native India.

He recalled attending a Cherry Blossom Festival in Cupertino a decade ago and thinking, “How is it that in Santa Clara, which is so diverse, there are no festivals for our ethnic communities?”

“We should actively have an annual fund to support cultural festivals in the city,” said Jain.

Although the City did not organize the Lunar New Year celebration, it was a sponsor, providing $30,000 of in-kind services (such as police) and awarding a $10,000 grant to event organizers.

The organizers include Silicon Valley Community Media (the nonprofit arm of the Chinese-American Ding Ding TV) with O.M.G Entertainment (a Bay Area marketing and event planning company) as well as Vietnamese in San Jose and the Korean American Federation in Silicon Valley.

“Silicon Valley is where we found belonging. And this celebration is our way of saying, ‘We are here, we celebrate together, and we move forward together,’” said Diana Ding, who immigrated to the U.S. from China.

High school students volunteered to help as needed. Among them on Saturday were friends Kandy Ryusei, Jayden Xe and Akhil Babu from San Jose High and Vincent Tiet from Oak Grove High School.

“I’m hanging out with my Chinese community,” said Tiet. “I like how I can explore every culture in one place and be able to freely explore and celebrate with my friends. This is awesome, very immersive.”

American-born Santa Clarans Ana Vargas-Smith and Andy Ratermann volunteered at the Santa Clara Parade of Champions booth.

“Everybody gets out and gets to know each other at events like the parade and this Lunar New Year celebration,” said Ratermann. “It helps us to retain a spirit of community.”

“I feel like I’m part of something bigger than me by being an active part of Santa Clara,” said Vargas-Smith.