Titi Mary Tran/Nguoi-Viet English
Tet. It’s that time of year when the Lunar calendar pushes aside the Gregorian calendar and brings about a celebration of fresh flowers, tropical fruits, colorful trinkets, lion dances, and a plethora of food and fortune greetings to mark the occasion.
We’re in the Tet spirit, a nostalgic taste of the homeland.
In Little Saigon, the largest concentration of Vietnamese living overseas, it’s clear the celebration has arrived, evidenced by the traffic jams and search for parking spots for people going to the once-a-year flower market at the Asian Garden Mall.
These are the festivities scheduled in and around Little Saigon for Tet 2019, the Year of the Pig, meaning the year of wealth and fortune.
Tet Parade: Saturday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bolsa Avenue, from Magnolia Street to Bushard Street, Garden Grove. http://tetparade.org/info/
UVSA Tet Festival: Friday, Feb. 8, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 9, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. https://tetfestival.org/
Mile Square Park Tet Festival: Friday, Feb. 8, 2 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mile Square Regional Park, 16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley. http://www.ocparks.com/events?ViewBy=7&CalDate=2/9/2019&EventDateID=374075