We are so frogcited to announce that Lunar New Year returns comes roaring back in 2022 for the Year of the Tiger. That means Tigger is bouncing in for some Lunar New Year fun to celebrate with Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, and of course, The Three Little Pigs! New for 2022, Raya — from "Raya and the Last Dragon" — makes appearances in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Plus there is a new Lunar New Year procession. Never have we been so hoppy to begin a new year as we are this year! 

Lunar New Year celebrates the traditional turning of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Over the past few years, Disney has seen this festival explode (it's a firework thing) in popularity since it began. The Lunar New Year Festival runs Jan. 21 to Feb. 13, 2022. 

The number of days for the festival has expanded in recent years, and we have been toadally excited about the new food and entertainment. You can taste traditional food, beverages and sweet treats from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian cultures at Asian marketplaces and other dining locations. While you nibble your treats, you can enjoy music and shows.

The year 2019 was the Year of the Pig. We enjoyed seeing The Three Little Pigs in Mulan's Lunar New Year's Procession. We are hoppy to say that they stuck around for meet-and-greets in 2020 and are back for 2022! It's the only time we get to see them at Disneyland Resort. The Year of the Mouse was 2020, so Mickey and Minnie had fun hosting that event. The park was closed for 2021, so we are toadally excited about celebrating again at Disney California Adventure in 2022.  Read on to learn about Disneyland Lunar New Year in 2022.

Disneyland Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure

Lunar New Year Entertainment

You will generally find festive Lunar New Year entertainment throughout the day and well into the evening between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

While all of the entertainment is exciting, our favorite spectacle is Mulan's Lunar New Year's Procession. Mulan and Mushu (with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip 'n' Dale and the Three Little Pigs) in their full holiday garb have led the way in past years. The procession has taken place on the waterfront for a couple years, but there is a new float for 2022.

The 2022 Lunar New Year procession travels from the Pixar Pier gate to the Obelisk in front of the pier and back. The float carries Mulan and Mushu with traditional drummers. It's adorned with golden tasseled firecrackers and red and gold lanterns. Catch it again at night, if you can, because they glow! The streets are filled with a dragon along with umbrella and fan dancers.

Check the entertainment schedule for the procession, which takes place several times in the afternoon and evening. Take a look at the 2019 procession in the video below!

On the Paradise Garden Bandstand, listen for Melody of China performing Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumental songs. Take a seat in the afternoon to enjoy your festival food while you watch and listen to the trio play their traditional Chinese dulcimer, lute and fiddle. Downtown Disney celebrates Lunar New Year with a new Lunar New Year mural on the corner of the ESPN Zone building.

World of Color does not return until spring 2022. Next year we look forward to catching a six-minute World of Color pre-show called “Hurry Home — Lunar New Year Celebration” before the main show. This story of family and friendship features Mulan and Mushu and is told with fountains, lights and music.

Lunar New Year Characters

You can meet characters Mulan, Mushu, Mickey, Minnie and The Three Little Pigs, all dressed in their Lunar New Year’s best at Paradise Gardens. We saw additional characters such as Pluto and Chip 'n' Dale dressed for the holiday, so keep your eyes open! Hop in line in the morning for the shortest waits. This year, Tigger jumps in for the Year of the Tiger. The characters may rotate for photos though, so you never know whom you'll get to meet!

Raya makes appearances in 2022. You can find her in the forest of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

Lunar New Year Crafts and Activities

Before or after visiting characters, you can do free crafts. Complete a dragon's pearl coloring craft. Experience Chinese calligraphy with local artisans. Plus, in the past, you could get your face painted for a fee. Be sure to write down your wishes and tie them to the Lucky Wishing Wall in hope of a prosperous New Year!

Disneyland Lunar New Year Merchandise 

We love seeing the exclusive Lunar New Year merchandise. The cups, ears, clothing and more can help you celebrate the Year of the Tiger. You can purchase some souvenir Mickey Mouse red envelopes to bring home to family, filled with wishes for good fortune and happiness in the coming year. There are red lanterns, T-shirts, themed Minnie Mouse ear headbands, spirit jerseys and all kinds of goodies to help you celebrate Lunar New Year Disney-style.

The Lunar New Year red balloons bobbing around always add to the festivities.

Lunar New Year Festival Food

One of our favorite parts of Lunar New Year is getting a taste of the Asian cultures by trying delicious foods. The Paradise Garden Grill gets a fresh Asian-inspired menu during the event, and the four Festival Marketplaces offer Asian dishes with a Disney flair. Pick up a Sip and Savor Menu to help you make your choices before ordering.

Here's a look at the 2022 Lunar New Year food and beverages (offerings subject to change for future years). The bottom line is everything tastes better when shaped like Mickey! Be sure to hop back soon for more details on the list of 2022 Lunar New Year foods at participating restaurants.

The following festival marketplace themes are confirmed as returning for 2022.

Lucky 8 Lantern

• Shrimp fried rice
• Smoked beef bulgogi short rib
• Peach Yuja-Ade (alcoholic beverage)
• Kloud Brewery (alcoholic beverage)
• Lotus flower glow cube

Longevity Noodle Co.

• Garlic noodles
• Spicy Port Dandan noodles
• Salted pistachio cold brew
• Young Master Brewery (alcoholic beverage)
• Lotus flower glow cube

Prosperity Bao & Buns

• Mickey Chinese hot dog bun
• Char siu BBQ pork bao
• Prosperous tiger
• Lychee Celebration (alcoholic beverage)
• Panda Pool Party Bamboo Lager (alcoholic beverage)
• Lotus flower glow cube

Red Dragon Spice Traders

• Spicy three-cup chicken
• Impossible Lion's Head Meatballs
• Mickey purple sweet potato macaron with creme fraiche
• Dancing Firecracker
• Master Gao Brewery (alcoholic beverage)
• Lotus flower glow cube

Paradise Garden Grill Restaurant (Tasting portions are available. Some of the items are confirmed for 2022, but not all.)

• Spicy pork pao tofu with zucchini (confirmed for 2022)
• Tiger milk tea with boba (confirmed for 2022)
• Pork belly bahn mi (confirmed for 2022)
• Korean grilled chicken
• Plant-based orange tempeh
• Whole deep-fried tilapia with chili-lime vinaigrette and steamed rice
• Mango Mousse
• Almond milk iced tea
• Orange blossom cocktail (alcoholic beverage)
• Tiger Beer
• Kloud Beer

Lucky Fortune Cookery (Tasting portion available. Menu not confirmed for 2022.)

• Bao bun with seasonal fruit

Outdoor Vending Carts (not confirmed for 2022)

• Almond cookies
• Bulgogi chicken

Lamplight Lounge

• Pork belly egg rolls
• Lunar cocktail - Japanese vodka, Yuzu liquor, strawberry puree and sparkling sake

If you can’t decide — and we admit it will be very hard to choose what to eat — you can get a Sip and Savor Pass. The pass was $42 in 2020 and comes with tabs that can be redeemed for food and nonalcoholic beverages at festival booths and tasting portions at participating restaurants. Magic Key holders usually get a discount and a special lanyard. The Sip and Savor Pass is good at any of the above Festival Marketplaces as well as Lucky Fortune Cookery and Paradise Garden Grill through the end of Lunar New Year.

Our favorite way to save time is to find the food booth with the shortest line. Order several of your foods at once and take your receipt to each booth to collect your food. We love skipping lines! Just don't lose your receipt! You'll find plenty of seating where you can enjoy your treats in the Paradise Gardens festival area.

Whether you usually celebrate Lunar New Year in your home, or you want to know more about this holiday, you will love experiencing Disneyland Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park. We learned a lot about the celebration last year, and we always enjoy taking part in the festivities. Hoppy Lunar New Year!

Have you celebrated Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure? Let us know in the comments if you've joined in on this festive celebration, and what your favorite activities were. Start the new year off with the most bang for your buck with hoppin' deals on discount Disneyland Resort tickets. 

Related: Complete Guide to Disneyland Events

Keep hopping!