By Lookout Staff

February 17, 2026 -- Pacific Park celebrated the “Year of the Horse” Monday with a "dazzling" 90-foot-tall display on the Pier, and the Santa Monica Place mall Downtown will follow suit with festivities this weekend.

The events mark the Lunar New Year celebrated by many of the LA region's more than 800,000 Asian Americans, some 9,000 of whom live in the beach city.

Santa Monica Place will ring in the new year with a free, family-friendly celebration on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., hosted by comedian Paul “PK” Kim.

The celebration features cultural performances and art and activities for all ages "set beneath red and gold lanterns that symbolize good fortune for the year ahead," mall officials said.

The celebration will showcase traditional Chinese lion dances by Bruce Wen and The Shaolin Entertainment Group, along with performances by LA Wushu Club, a Los Angeles-based group dedicated to traditional Chinese martial arts.

Other highlights include balloon artistry, live demonstrations by Chinese dough artist Chris Lee and Lunar New Year blessings offered by calligraphy artist Emmy Lam as a special keepsake.

There will be live music performances throughout the afternoon and a Kids Craft Area for children to explore, event organizers said.

"Attendees will receive red envelope offers and promotions from participating retailers and restaurants," organizers said.

"Visitors are also invited to share their hopes for the year ahead by hanging wishes on the cherry blossom Wishing Trees located in Center Plaza."

Cherry blossom Wishing Trees, lantern displays and red envelope promotions will be available from February 12 to March 2.

Saturday's celebration comes after Pacific Park's iconic Ferris Wheel featured an animated “Horse” display and the phrase “Happy New Year” in Mandarin from sunset Monday to midnight.

The vibrant red and gold colors, patterns, transitions, and festive icons were displayed using 174,000 LED lights mounted on the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel.

According to the website ChineseNewYear.net, the Horse is the 7th animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs and comes after the Snake and before the Goat.

Recent years of the Horse include 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, and 1954, with the next Horse year in 2038 (Year of the Earth Horse).

"According to Chinese astrology, Horse is confident, agreeable, and responsible, although they also tend to dislike being reined in by others," the website states.

"They’re fit and intelligent, adoring physical and mental exertion; they’re decisive but also easily swayed and impatient."