Happy (almost) Lunar New Year. This Sunday, Jan. 22, one of the biggest celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures begins, and Greenville is ready to party.
China’s Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival or Chūnjié in Mandarin, while Koreans call it Seollal and the Vietnamese refer to it as Tết. No matter what it’s called, it’s always rung in with the first new moon at the end of January and spans the first 15 days of the first month of the lunar calendar, until the full moon arrives.
Here’s where you can celebrate in Greenville this weekend:
Lunar New Year Celebration | Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery, 205 Cedar Lane Rd.
Saturday, Jan. 21 | 4-7 p.m. | Free entry | Celebrate the Year of the (Swamp) Rabbit with specials and red envelope giveaways throughout the day.
Grab bites and sips :
Enjoy family fun:
- GVL Explorers | Craft table open from 3-6 p.m.
- The Children’s Museum of the Upstate | Storytime at 3:30 pm.
Pro tip: Start the party at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery before hitting Sum Bar’s festival to maximize the Lunar New Year fun. | Photo by @swamprabbitcafe
Lunar New Year Festival | Sum Bar, 307 E. Washington St.
Saturday, Jan. 21 | 5-10 p.m. | Free entry | All are welcome to this Lunar New Year festival and party for a cause with proceeds supporting Pendleton Place.
Grab bites:
Sip on drinks:
Listen to live music:
Enjoy family fun:
- Lantern making
- A coloring station
- A passport activity
- A photo station by @ronyriverx
Shop local vendors:
- Amend Market
- Erin Stuart Studios
- Dorothy Shain Art
- Jordan Heidler Art
- La Bella Charcuterie
- Upstate SC LGBT+ Chamber
- Little Painting B
- Sassafrass Fresh Cut Flowers
- Savereign
- Summer Nikole Jewelry
- Varsity Goods Greenville
Support local causes:
- Buy a red envelope with a surprise gift, discount, or gift card from a local small business inside — all proceeds go directly to Pendleton Place.
- Buy a specialty drink with a percentage of the proceeds supporting Project Host.
Keep the party going into the night:
The party doesn’t end at 10 p.m. Move things into Sum Bar where there will be dancing to a DJ and karaoke, late night bites from Daylight Burrito and Tacoville, and drinks to keep the party going until 2 a.m.
Pro tip: Start the party at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery before hitting Sum Bar’s festival to maximize the Lunar New Year fun.
Celebrate at home
Bring Lunar New Year to you by stocking up on supplies at one of these local Greenville businesses:
- Asia Pacific Restaurant and Supermarket | 420 N. Pleasantburg Dr.
- Asian Supermarket | 30 Orchard Park Dr., Ste. 13
- Saigon Market | 1540 Wade Hampton Blvd., J
