LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Preparations are underway for the Lunar New Year celebration, and this year the festival is expanding beyond Chinatown.
For the first time, organizers say the Lunar New Year Festival will also take place in Koreatown Plaza.
A record number of more than 100 vendors are expected to serve authentic Asian cuisine as Las Vegas welcomes the Year of the Horse with both locals and tourists joining the celebration.
Supporting small businesses
“So it was important for us to have this event to use as a platform for all these businesses to showcase what they do,” said Catherine Francisco, founder and president of AAPI Chamber. “And I think this is what makes… there’s so many different Lunar New Year celebrations in town.”
Lunar New Year is being celebrated by events across the Las Vegas Valley. As the Fire Horse symbolizes a fresh start and momentum, organizers say this year’s festival will spotlight small Asian businesses in a big way.
The AAPI Chamber of Commerce says they’re has been less visitors in Koreatown Plaza so they wanted to do something to help bring more people into the area.
“We want to make sure that we bring liveliness,” Francisco said. “We want to showcase the plaza again to the community.”
Annual fundraiser
The AAPI Chamber says the Lunar New Year Festival is their largest fundraiser of the year.
“We love it because it’s at the beginning of the year,” Francisco said. “So it sets us up for the programs we offer the small businesses out there for the rest of the year.”
The event is free for the community, but organizers also offer VIP experiences including a tuna carving ceremony with Chef Winston Matsuuchi. The chef works at Gastropub Nise Bar & Grill, which opened five months ago.
“We’re just trying to create more new experiences for people” said Matsuuchi.
Chamber mission
The AAPI Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to support small businesses in various ways, providing resources, advising and championing small businesses.
“But we do three pillars that we do at the Chamber,” Francisco said. “And that is, we are all about representation. We’re all about advocacy. And we’re all about community. And being a resource for all the small business out there.”
The event is free for everyone, but tickets are available for the VIP option.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
