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Red Lunar New Year Lanterns lit up

Best Surf Towns for Celebrating the Lunar New Year in 2024

Posted on January 30, 2024February 29, 2024 by Tastes And Tides

The Lunar New Year is falling on Saturday, February 10 this year. Cities around the world have been preparing for this multi-day celebration for months. For 15 days, starting from Saturday’s new moon to the last full moon of the winter, people around the world will ring in the Lunar New Year.

According to the Chinese zodiac, there are 12 animals that represent each year in the calendar. 2024 will be the year of the dragon, which is one of the most auspicious of the zodiac signs and a big reason to party.

Chinatown lanterns San Francisco

Photo by Kevin Vision🖤 on Unsplash

If you’ve never experienced a Lunar New Year celebration, you’re missing out. From the ornate floats and costumes, non-stop and energy, and of course, endless food, few celebrations on earth come close. 

If you’re a surfer and want to coincide your celebrations with good surf, you’re in luck. Below are the top surf towns for celebrating 2024’s Lunar New Year. 

New York City

With over 17% of New Yorkers identifying as Asian and nine unique Chinatown communities, including the world famous Chinatown in Manhattan, it’s no surprise New York tops the list. It’s also one hell of a surf destination, especially in February. 

Chinatown New York

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

If you can brave the ice-cream headaches and heavy beach breaks, New York is the perfect winter surfing destination. During this year’s Lunar New year, you may find yourself in the lineups in between the parties. 

On February 10, the Lunar New Year Parade and Festival begin with the famous Firecracker Ceremony and Culture Festival in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The endless events continue throughout the month, ending in the Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on February 25. 

During the 15 day run of fun, you’ll get to enjoy workshops, mahjong parties, and plenty of dim sum, noodles, and moon cakes. For the ultimate foodie experience, don’t miss Sunset Park’s Chinatown in Brooklyn. 

Sydney 

If you want to surf breaks like Manly and Maroubra before partying all night, then Sydney is the place to be for the Lunar New Year. As the southern hemisphere’s summer season leads into fall, Sydney gets hit with Northeast windswell and large mid-period East swells and cyclone swells from the Southeast. 

surfer sitting in the lineup in Sydney, waiting for a wave

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

While the coast is getting treated to consistent energy and generally good offshore winds, the city is cranking up with events and parties. The excitement starts downtown for Sydney’s Lunar Festival from February 10 to 26. 

You’ll get to experience weeks of parties, live music, lion dancing and street performances, and of course endless street food. Encompassing the savory aromas and loud excitement are bright light installations and fireworks. 

Don’t miss the dragon boat races on February 16 to 18. For some of the best food and excitement, check out Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter. and Darling Square. 

San Francisco

Few surf destinations in the world can match Sant Francisco’s Ocean Beach in winter. If you’re looking for heaving beach break barrels and don’t mind frustratingly long paddle outs and the occasional shark scare, this is the place for you. 

Surfers under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Photo by John Hanusek Photography on Unsplash

The Bay Area is also ground zero for some of the West Coast’s largest Lunar New Year celebrations. Don’t miss the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade in San Francisco plus an entire month of events, including the Flower Market Fair on February 3 and 4 and the Chinatown YMCA Run on March 3.

In Oakland, don’t miss the Lunar New Year Parade in Wilma Chan Park on February 18. Nearby in San Jose, you can enjoy the Lunar New Year Festival at History Park on February 3 and 4.

Taipei

Along with the Lunar New Year in Taiwan comes the Northeastern Monsoon season in February. All along the north coast of the island, mid-period waves crash into the reefs, beaches, and rocky points. 

Chinese lanterns hanging in a temple outside

Photo by Lisanto 李奕良 on Unsplash

In the island’s capital, Taipei, things seem to slow down around the Lunar New Year. Most people choose to ditch the all-night parties for home-cooked meals and hanging out with family. 

However, if you want a more laid-back experience, with the addition of possible good surf, Taipei is the perfect destination. Although many stores close up, you can still find plenty to experience during Taipei’s Lunar New Year. 

After a morning surf, head to the temples throughout the Taipei region to see celebrations, ceremonies, and locals celebrating with their families. Next, don’t miss the opportunity to wander around the city. Without the usual traffic and congestion, Taipei becomes eerily quiet during the Lunar New Year and a photographer’s dream. 

Los Angeles

Everyone knows LA is the epicenter of the surf world. With iconic breaks up and down its coast and within a two-hour drive, few places beat this region for surf, especially in February. It’s also home to one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations in the United States. 

Los Angeles Chinatown Gate

Photo by Tony Saiko on Unsplash

LA’s Chinatown, located just north of downtown, comes alive during the holidays. On February 17, the neighborhood surrounding Hill Street and North Broadway and Hill Street will be packed with thousands of people for the 125th Golden Dragon Parade. 

Nearby in Monterey Park and Alhambra, you’ll find plenty of events throughout February. Alhambra’s Main Street closes down on February 18 for traditional performances, street food stands, crafts, and family-friendly events. 

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We’d like to take a minute to wish you a Happy N We’d like to take a minute to wish you a Happy New Year from us at Tastes and Tides! 🌊
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Big thanks and hugs from us at Tastes and Tides! 
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Check it out at TastesandTides.com
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Link in bio 🏄
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2nd photo by Mickey Smith
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Link in Bio 🌺
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Second photo by Luke McKeown
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#tastesandtides #Hawaiiancuisine #Hawaiianplatelunch #Hawaiianfood #Hawaiianpoi #Hawaiihistory #historyofhawaii
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To make a caipirinha, you need cachaça, a Brazilian spirit made from raw sugar cane, similar to rhum agricole 🍋‍🟩
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Next, you need whole limes and sugar, preferably high-quality organic cane sugar 🍋‍🟩
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To make the drink, simply muddle the limes and sugar in a glass, add cachaça and ice, and shake or stir it depending on your preference 🍋‍🟩
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2nd photo by @samanthademangate 
3rd photo by @brunoabrev 
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Veggie pizzas shine when paired with a light-bodied red wine such as bonarda or cold-climate pinot noir 🍕
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White pizzas with creamy sauces and cheeses are high in decadent fats and low in acidity, something tomatoes provide. For these pies, look to sparkling rose champagne or prosecco 🍕 
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For the most polarizing pairing of all, match your pineapple pizza with a crisp riesling 🍕 
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#tastesandtides #winewednesday #winepairingwithpizza #pizzaandwine #sakeandpizza #ピザと日本酒
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Oysters come in a variety of sizes and flavors. Atlantic oysters are usually saltier with brine and seaweed flavors. Pacific oysters come sweeter with more green vegetable and melon notes 🦪
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For both types of oysters, try pairing a white wine, champagne, or junmai and junmai daiginjo sake 🦪
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#tastesandtides #oysterpairing #winewednesday #wineandoysters #ostrasyvino #champagneandoysters
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A big congrats to Tatiana Weston-Webb (Brazil) @tatiwest and Jack Robinson (Australia) @jackrobinson72 for silver and Johanne Defay (France) @johannedefay and Gabriel Medina (Brazil) @gabrielmedina for bronze. 
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Although there were lulls, many lulls… Teahupo’o once again delivered the goods. 🙏
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And we're already looking forward to what LA brings in 2028! 
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Even after a tragic surfing accident, the longtime surfer's love of the ocean is as strong as ever.
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Check out Hersh's story now on Tastes and Tides (link in bio - THE WATER'S STILL MY FRIEND)
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2nd photo by Mohamed Navi
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We’re revisiting Lima, Peru today for a tasty ce We’re revisiting Lima, Peru today for a tasty ceviche recipe 🐟
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RECIPE
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Take sushi-grade white fish like red snapper and cut it into cubes. 
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In a blender, add 1 cup of lime juice, garlic, ginger, chili pepper slices, salt, and a few cubes of fish. Blend it to create the rich leche de tigre marinade.
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Marinade your fish in the leche de tigre and add a sweet potato that’s been boiled in seasoned water—we love to use cloves! 
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Add some corn, thinly sliced red onions, and more fresh chilis for extra spice.
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After 15 to 30 minutes, your ceviche is ready to go! 
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Garnish with lettuce and your favorite leafy greens.
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SPOT GUIDE—Santa Cruz, CA This week, we’re he SPOT GUIDE—Santa Cruz, CA

This week, we’re headed to Santa Cruz, California. 
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Santa Cruz is a wave-rich city at the northern end of Monterey Bay, just over an hour from San Francisco. 
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The city is home to ancient redwood forests, organic farms, and year-round surf. 
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Its most famous waves include Pleasure Point, Steamer Lane, and the Hook. 
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Stay alert for July’s Feature Article, which is taking place in, you guessed it, Santa Cruz, CA. Dropping on Thursday, July 25th.
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Photos by Saira Ahmed
#tastesandtides #santacruzsurf #santacruzcuisine #santacruzca #californiasurf #montereybay
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