Quad Cities Chinese Association Celebrates Lunar New Year

Lion dance, red envelopes, and luncheon mark the Year of the Horse

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Quad Cities Chinese Association is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration on February 21st in Davenport, Iowa. The event will feature a lion dance, the distribution of traditional red envelopes, a presentation on Chinese New Year traditions, and a luncheon. The association has spent the last 50 years preserving and promoting Chinese heritage and culture in the area.

Why it matters

The Lunar New Year is a major cultural celebration observed by billions of people worldwide. This event allows the Quad Cities community to come together and experience Chinese traditions, strengthening cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

The details

The Lunar New Year celebration hosted by the Quad Cities Chinese Association will begin at 10am with a lion dance performance. Attendees will then receive red envelopes, or "hong bao," which are traditionally given to children during the holiday. There will also be a presentation on family celebrations of the Chinese New Year and the traits associated with those born in the Year of the Horse, as well as group singing and door prize drawings. A luncheon will follow from 11am to 12pm.

  • The Lunar New Year celebration will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The event will run from 10am to 12pm.

The players

Quad Cities Chinese Association

A community organization founded in 1976 that has spent the last 50 years preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Chinese, Chinese-American, and adopted families in the Quad Cities area.

Izumi Restaurant

The location hosting the Lunar New Year celebration in Davenport, Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in Davenport, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Quad Cities Chinese Association member (Instagram)

What’s next

Organizers have extended the RSVP deadline to Wednesday, February 18th for viewers of The Current on News 8 and WQAD fans. Reservations can be made by emailing qc.chinese@msn.com with the number of attendees.

The takeaway

This Lunar New Year celebration organized by the Quad Cities Chinese Association is an opportunity for the community to come together and experience the rich cultural traditions of the Chinese New Year. By preserving and promoting these customs, the association helps foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation in the Quad Cities region.