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Disney California Adventure kicks off Lunar New Year festivities
It’s the Year of the Snake.
You won’t doubt it when you see the Snake Sourdough Bread, complete with eyes, wiggling toward you at Aunt Cass Cafe at Disney California Adventure.
Culinary experiences are also exploding with firecrackers — chocolate ones — at Lucky 8 Lantern, one of the marketplaces that are drawing big crowds during the Anaheim park’s annual Lunar New Year celebration.
Also getting visitors’ attention are a parade telling Mulan’s story, a water short about a lantern’s journey and entertainers varying from a Korean-American a cappella pop group to traditional dancers. Even Mickey and Minnie Mouse are wearing Korean-inspired costumes for the celebration, which started Friday and continues through Feb. 16. The festival honors the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures.
From K-pop to traditional dancers
The festival’s entertainment includes contemporary bands such as Fortunes and Vocal Seoul. The latter is a Los Angeles-based a cappella group consisting of Korean-American singers, who are drawing crowds at the park’s Sonoma Terrace.
But the festival also makes room for more traditional entertainment. That’s highlighted by performers such as Kim Eung Hwa & the Korean Dance Academy, who wear elaborate costumes and blend grace with rhythm.
For more about entertainment, see disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/lunar-new-year.
Mulan’s parade
A hero’s story is being told in Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, which features the Chinese character and her dragon friend Mushu from the 1998 animated and 2009 live-action “Mulan” movies. The short parade also has a variety of dancers in elaborate costumes.
Another highlight is the “Hurry Home — A Lunar New Year Celebration,” a water short telling the story of Little Lantern’s journey home for the annual celebration of good luck and fortune. It precedes the “World of Color — One” water show on Paradise Bay and is set to a score by Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun.
Culinary delights during the Year of the Snake
Disneyland Resort chef Daniel “Duke” Brown praised the team of chefs at the resort’s central bakery for coming up with the new Chocolate Firecrackers, which he sees as a perfect fit for the festival. “Firecrackers bring excitement to people.”
“We want to push the boundaries on how we can make things more fun, more innovative,” Brown said.
You’ll find the firecrackers at Lucky 8 Lantern, one of the marketplaces that make up the festival. At each marketplace, you order the food at one counter and pick it up at another. You’ll find the arrangement makes more sense if you walk from the front of the park to the back.
Brown, who’s one of the chefs at the park’s Avengers Campus, said the Legend of the Ten Spices flatbread was inspired by the 2021 Marvel Studios movie, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” The flatbread, which comes from the campus’ Pym Test Kitchen, features kung pao beef, sesame spread, toasted bok choy and napa cabbage.
Other culinary delights at the festival range from baos to chicken wings.
A sip-and-savor pass allows people to get small samples from the marketplaces in Paradise Gardens Park. They vary from Bamboo Blessings, which serves the Mickey Mouse-shaped strawberry milk tea macaron and mini char siu pork shanks, to Longevity Noodle Co., which sells the spicy Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles and Garlic Noodles. A sweet contrast at the noodle stand is the Tropical Coconut Cooler.
The marketplace Wrapped with Love features a Phở dip, a sandwich with rice noodles, sliced beef, shaved jalapeños and pickled onions. It’s served with a Phở broth.
There’s a good variety of alcoholic drinks, everything from the Year of the Snake Margarita, which features a kiwi syrup and mango puree, to the Lunar New Year Beer Flight.
The park is also serving a whole fish (bass), which is a sign of prosperity in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, Brown said.
The full festival’s menu is at disneyland.disney.go.com/dining.
And for more photos of the celebration, click here.
Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached atdave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.
Disney California Adventure is celebrating Lunar New Year with a spectacular festival filled with cultural performances, delicious food, and festive decorations. The park has transformed into a vibrant celebration of Asian culture, complete with traditional lanterns, red and gold decorations, and special entertainment.
Guests can enjoy live performances from Chinese dragon dancers, Korean drummers, and other talented performers showcasing their cultural heritage. There are also special character meet and greets with Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in traditional Lunar New Year attire, as well as appearances by Mulan, Mushu, and other beloved Disney characters.
Foodies will delight in the Lunar New Year marketplace, where they can sample a variety of Asian-inspired dishes and treats. From dumplings and bao buns to rice cakes and almond cookies, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The festivities will run from January 21 to February 13, so be sure to visit Disney California Adventure and join in the Lunar New Year celebrations. It’s a magical way to ring in the Year of the Tiger and enjoy a taste of Asian culture right here in Southern California.
Tags:
- Disney California Adventure
- Lunar New Year
- Festivities
- Disneyland Resort
- Chinese New Year
- Lunar New Year celebrations
- Disney theme parks
- Lunar New Year events
- Asian culture
- Disney California Adventure Lunar New Year
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