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Orange County Celebrated the 2022 OC Tet Festival at Mile Square Park
February 10, 2022 - Thousands of Orange County families came together over the weekend to celebrate the 2022 Lunar New Year at the Orange County Tet Festival at Mile Square Park.
Sponsored by Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, the annual event in Fountain Valley is the most widely observed holiday within the Vietnamese community.
“Tet is a time for families to gather and express our respect and remembrance for our ancestors,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, who represents Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam.
“In a county rich with diversity, it is important to celebrate and share cultural traditions with our fellow friends, family, and neighbors.”
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in many countries around the world. For Vietnamese, the Lunar New Year is known as Tet, for Tết Nguyên Đán, which means “Feast of the First Morning.”
OC Tet Festival: Celebration of Hope and Renewal
Supervisor Andrew Do’s three-day outdoor festival featured an array of exquisite Vietnamese cuisine, talented entertainers, cultural performances, carnival rides, lion dances, and a spectacular firecracker display. The event was co-sponsored with Orange County Parks and CalOptima.
“Tet is a celebration of hope and renewal,” said Supervisor Do, who represents the First District. “After a tumultuous two years, it’s invigorating to celebrate Tet once again as a community.”
This year’s celebration was especially impactful after last year’s festivities were canceled due to COVID.
“Cultural community events such as the Tet Festival in the spring and the Moon Festival in the fall celebrate and honor our heritage, triumphs, and adversities,” he added.
For Vietnamese, the new year starts at the beginning of spring when the next season’s crops have been planted and have begun to grow. The time between the last day of the old year and the first day of the new year is full of profound meaning. Families gather at temples, pay their respects to their ancestors, and pray for good luck and good fortune.
Each Lunar New Year represents one of twelve Zodiac animals, which are commonly associated with certain personality traits. 2022 is the year of the tiger. The tiger stands for resilience, courage, and optimism.
For Vietnamese, the traditional lion dance symbolizes the removal of bad energies, as the lion is believed to bring good luck, health, and prosperity.
At the festival, attendees also had a chance to catch a glimpse of Vietnam’s most notable landscapes, artifacts from Vietnam, and an exquisite botany variety at the Vietnamese Cultural Center.
Little Saigon Tet Parade in Westminster
On Saturday morning, thousands of people gathered on Bolsa Avenue in Westminster to watch the annual Tet parade.
The parade, organized by the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade Committee, hosted more than fifty entries. Among those included several local high school marching bands and color guards, Vietnamese dance groups and pageants, and lion dance performances.
In the parade, Supervisor Do and his family were accompanied by youth from the BeliEVE & Dance Studio. This Fountain Valley group, led by instructor Trung Thanh, amazed crowds with their choreographed dance moves and vibrant energy.
The Vietnamese American community is integral to the social, economic, and cultural tapestry of Orange County. After 47 years, Vietnamese Americans continue to preserve their traditional culture by teaching their children the language and attending cultural public events.
“Tet embodies key elements of Vietnamese identity, cultural heritage, and a deeper connection with the spiritual world,” said Supervisor Andrew Do.
“Tet is and will always remain a special occasion to pay homage to the old year and express new hope for the new year.”
Check out the full event video below:
Check out the highlight event video below:
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Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do represents the First District communities of Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Seal Beach, Westminster, and the Unincorporated Communities of Midway City and Rossmoor. As Supervisor, Andrew Do has reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness.
