Lunar New Year Celebrations
Join us in Welcoming the Year of the Horse
We are busy preparing for another exciting Lunar New Year celebration, this year to be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 10 am – 3 pm. Mark your calendars and spread the word! We look forward to seeing you there.
Scroll down for event details
The event program will feature a performance by the Chinese Folk Art Workshop (CFAW Boston) highlighting Chinese music, dance, and martial arts.
Free admission for children under age 5
Plenty of free parking
If the live event is canceled, all tickets purchased will automatically be fully refunded.
About CAFAM’s Lunar New Celebration
The Lunar New Year (LNY) Celebration is CAFAM’s most anticipated event of the year and the largest celebration of Chinese culture in Maine, drawing over 750 people each year. Our annual celebration appeals to families, adults, and children of all backgrounds. At the celebration, you’ll find the following:
- Intriguing speakers and interactive demonstrations
- Exciting Chinese folk song and dance performances
- Fun arts and crafts for the whole family
- Delicious Chinese food by local vendors
Explore past celebrations below to learn the beautiful history of LNY since CAFAM’s inception, read about sponsorship opportunities for both individual and business donors alike, see press coverage of the event, or take a stroll down memory lane.
As we continue to grow, CAFAM’s mission for cultural awareness and community growth pushes the organization to provide a fresh and exciting new LNY program each year.
The History of CAFAM’s Lunar New Year Celebration
Soon after CAFAM was established on August 8, 1988, the organization held a small banquet for Chinese New Year (CNY), the first major event organized by CAFAM to ring in the lunar new year.
It wasn’t until 1991 when South Portland Public Library approached CAFAM to organize a fair that the first true CNY fair was born. The venues have changed over the years, moving from the library to the YWCA on Spring Street in Portland, to Catherine McAuley High School on Stevens Avenue in Portland, to the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.
From its inception, the New Year Fair (or the Lunar New Year Celebration as we have called it since 2020) features a variety of food and activities for both children and adults. From the start, CAFAM always provides craft activities for younger children, always based on the theme of that year’s zodiac animal.
Dance performances began roughly in 2001, with the debut of a ribbon dance from CAFAM Chinese School students. After the Chinese School closed, CAFAM has brought in professional dance groups.
Presentations and other programs for adults have varied in topic year after year to appeal to enthusiasts of history, culture, fine and performing arts, science, medicine, and economics. Topics have ranged from Chinese history in Maine, Qi Gong philosophy, acupuncture, and other Chinese healing arts, business in China, calligraphy, and more.
