Lunar New Year 2026 marks the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse — a year the Chinese astrological calendar considers rare, passionate, and unpredictable. Dallas Farmers Market is ready for it. The celebration runs February 21–22 at The Shed and Pearl Street Plaza.
The Jiu Long Lion Dance
The Jiu Long Lion Dance troupe from Dallas performs at Pearl Street Plaza on both Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 1pm. The performance involves two-person lions navigating a course of obstacles, leaping between platforms, and collecting offerings of lettuce and oranges — a ceremony for prosperity and luck in the new year.
Fortune Cat
A Fortune Cat installation is set up at the Pearl Street Plaza entrance for photos through the weekend — an oversized ceramic maneki-neko (beckoning cat) with lucky horseshoe details for the Year of the Horse. Free to photograph; props available.
"The Fire Horse comes around every 60 years. You'd better celebrate it while you have the chance."
Pony Rides from the Dallas Police Mounted Unit
The Dallas Police Mounted Unit brings horses to Pearl Street Plaza on Saturday morning (10am–noon) — free pony rides for children under 12, with DPMU officers on hand to talk about working horses in an urban setting.
A Dumpling Demonstration
DFM's culinary programming this weekend includes a live dumpling-making demonstration at 11am Saturday at the Pearl Street Plaza stage. A chef demonstrates pleating technique and the filling differences between Northern and Southern Chinese dumpling traditions. Free to watch; the dumplings are for sale after.
Audubon Texas Bird Workshop
The birds in the title: Audubon Texas sets up at Pearl Street Plaza on Sunday morning (10am–noon) with a workshop on identifying migratory winter birds in Dallas. February is prime hawk and waterfowl migration season in North Texas — Audubon staff bring binoculars, a spotting scope, and printed field guides. Free, all ages.
Lunar New Year in the Shed
The Shed's vendors add seasonal items for Lunar New Year weekend — look for specialty produce like bok choy, napa cabbage, and Asian pears, plus specialty foods vendors running limited edition items.
Year of the Fire Horse
The Fire Horse is the most powerful and independent of all the Horse years in the 60-year astrological cycle. It appears once every 60 years — the last was 1966. According to tradition, people born in a Fire Horse year are energetic, adventurous, and often unconventional. Dallas Farmers Market: appropriate venue.
The Shed is open Saturdays 8am–5pm and Sundays 10am–5pm. Lunar New Year programming at Pearl Street Plaza is free to attend.
