Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse!
Sonoma Community Center to host third annual Lunar New Year Community Event
Sonoma, California. The Sonoma Community Center’s third annual Free Lunar New Year Community Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, from noon to 3:00 p.m. Leading up to the celebration, the Center has planned special cultural programming throughout February and March.
Tuesday, February 17, marked the start of the Chinese lunar calendar, bringing with it a new zodiac cycle. This is the Year of the Fire Horse, a powerful zodiac sign symbolizing action, adventure, passion, and independence. In contrast to 2025’s Year of the Snake, which is associated with wisdom and strategic, quiet transformation, the Fire Horse arrives with bold momentum and dynamic energy.
While the Lunar New Year is always a time of joy and celebration, 2026 carries added significance. The Horse appears in the zodiac cycle every 12 years, but the Fire Horse emerges only once every 60 years. Not since 1966 has this rare and spirited sign taken center stage, making 2026 a notable and energetic turning point in the traditional Chinese calendar.
“I feel it is both an honor and a privilege to help bring our community together to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” said Kelly Autumn, event organizer, educator, and visual artist. “This special occasion is a powerful reminder of the strength and unity we can find in gathering together and in sharing cultural traditions.”
Beginning at noon on Saturday, March 7, the Center will bring together AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) food and art vendors behind the Center, weather permitting. Sonoma City Council Member Jack Ding and his guest, Gigi Tan Pfleger, will give a demonstration in the art of Chinese calligraphy. Organizers of the free weekly Chinese mahjong classes at the Center, John Tan and Micheal Gomez, will offer a live overview of how the game is played. Fun and free activities for kids will also be available.
The event happens in partnership with Sonoma’s treasured performing arts group, Hula Mai, and the dynamic performers of RECA (Redwood Empire Chinese Association). Live performances from both groups will begin at 1:00 p.m. and include the very popular lion and dragon dancers. This is RECA’s third year participating in the Center’s Lunar New Year Celebration.
“We are very happy and proud to be in the Valley to join everyone in sharing the joy of the Chinese American way of life as an integral part of Sonoma’s history and culture,” commented Judy Cheung, RECA Secretary.
Confirmed food vendors are Mr. Dim Sum and Sam Paone of Golden State Pickleworks. Winemaker Coral Wang of Maison des Plaisances and Valley Boba Craft Tea will offer beverages for sale. Author and illustrator Anna Wong returns with her books for a second year. New for the Year of the Horse, Sonoma’s Square Peg Foundation, which supports neurodiverse community members through programs with retired racehorses, will offer family-friendly activities.
Associated programming happening at the Center in conjunction with the Lunar New Year includes classes in the fiber arts and ceramics departments. Visual Arts Director for the Center and teaching artist Jill Valavanis will teach a class called “Sew a Hermès-Inspired Horse Bag Charm” on Thursday, February 26, at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $35. Artist Lexi Bakkar will teach a hand-built ceramics class for household adornments inspired by the majestic horse on Friday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m. That class is $45.
The Chinese mahjong classes taught by Tan and Gomez are free; however, students must RSVP through the Center’s website because space is limited. Classes are Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The third annual Free Lunar New Year Community Celebration happens at the Sonoma Community Center, Saturday, March 7, from noon to 3:00 p.m. The Center is located at 276 East Napa Street in Sonoma Valley. The event is free for all ages. For more information, visit SonomaCommunityCenter.org
About Sonoma Community Center
The Sonoma Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1953 to serve the communities of Sonoma Valley with the mission of cultivating a vibrant community through extraordinary creative, cultural, and learning experiences. Originally built as the Sonoma Grammar School, which opened in 1916, the Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Community – Innovation – Creativity – Inclusion – Leadership
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Media Contact:
Kelly Autumn, Printmaking Coordinator and Lunar New Year Event Organizer
Sonoma Community Center
707-938-4626
[email protected]
