Lunar New Year celebrations in the United States for 2025 present a variety of promotional offers and freebies, ranging from digital rewards in mobile games to instant-win contests and cultural festival food items. The festivities, which begin on January 29, 2025, and are marked by the Year of the Snake, offer U.S. consumers multiple avenues to participate in the holiday through brand-sponsored events and activities. These opportunities include daily login rewards in a popular mobile game, a chance to win a Las Vegas getaway or gift cards through a beverage brand's contest, and special food menus at Disneyland Resort. Additionally, cultural guides highlight traditional methods of celebration, such as gift-giving and community events, which may involve free activities or workshops.
Digital Game Rewards: Brawl Stars Lunar New Year Event
One of the most accessible freebies for 2025 comes from the mobile game Brawl Stars, which is hosting a limited-time Lunar New Year event. This event is designed to reward players for daily engagement with the game. The event officially begins on January 27, 2025, and concludes on February 5, 2025. To receive the rewards, players must log into Brawl Stars every day during this 10-day period and claim the items from the in-game shop. Failure to log in and claim the rewards on any given day may result in the inability to redeem all available items.
The daily rewards consist of cosmetic items and in-game currency, culminating in a significant bonus on the final day. The specific rewards scheduled for each day of the event are as follows:
- Day 1: Snake Player Pin
- Day 2: Gold Sycee Player Icon
- Day 3: Mandarin Orange Player Icon
- Day 4: Fan Player Icon
- Day 5: Mandarin Orange Pin
- Day 6: Flower Player Icon
- Day 7: Gold Sycee Pin
- Day 8: Snake Player Icon
- Day 9: Lunar New Year Player Icon
- Day 10: 8 Random Starr Drops and 1 Legendary Starr Drop
A notable aspect of this promotion is the availability of double the number of Daily Starr Drops for players between January 27 and February 2. This bonus period offers an enhanced reward rate within the event's initial days. The event is themed around the Year of the Snake, featuring rewards like the "Snake Player Pin" and "Snake Player Icon" to commemorate the zodiac animal.
Tsingtao "Year Of The Horse" Instant Win Game
While the 2025 Lunar New Year is the Year of the Snake, a promotional contest from Tsingtao beer is themed around the "Year Of The Horse" and is available to U.S. consumers. This instant win game offers a total of 21 prizes. It is important to note the discrepancy in the zodiac year theme between the contest and the 2025 Lunar New Year; the contest materials specifically reference the "Year Of The Horse."
The contest offers the following prizes: * Grand Prize (1 winner): A roundtrip economy airfare to Las Vegas from May 8–10, 2026, a two-night stay at the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World, and entry into a special event for a chance to win either $100 or $100,000. * Instant Win Prizes (20 winners): Each winner receives one $88 digital gift card, with an Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of $88 each.
Eligibility and Entry Rules: * Eligibility: The contest is open to U.S. residents who are 21 years of age or older. * Entry Method: Entries are accepted on a daily basis. * End Date: The contest closes on March 11, 2026.
Consumers interested in this promotion should look for official Tsingtao promotional materials to participate. As with all contests, participants should review the official rules for complete details on entry methods, prize fulfillment, and any additional restrictions.
Disneyland Resort Lunar New Year Food and Beverage Offerings
For consumers planning to visit California, Disneyland Resort's Disney California Adventure Park is hosting its Lunar New Year celebration from January 23 through February 22, 2026. While this is a ticketed event for the theme park, it features special food and beverage items that may be of interest. The 2026 festival is themed for the Year of the Horse.
The festival highlights a variety of new and returning menu items inspired by Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cuisines. New offerings for the 2026 event include: * Five-Spice Popcorn Chicken * Japchae Noodles * Spicy Pork Belly Grilled Cheese
Returning favorites available during the festival include: * Quesabirria Eggroll * Phở Dip * Taro Vietnamese Cold Brew
For attendees who wish to sample multiple items, the resort offers a Sip and Savor Pass. This is a scannable credential that provides six digital coupons. These coupons can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic menu items at Lunar New Year marketplaces and participating dining locations within the park during the festival. Menu items eligible for redemption with the Sip and Savor Pass are typically marked with a specific indicator (in this case, a 🍽️ symbol in the official guide). The pass is intended to offer a cashless and convenient way to enjoy the festival's culinary offerings. Additionally, the resort offers a Disney Gift Card featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in Korean-inspired outfits for those looking to go cash-free during their visit.
Traditional Celebrations and Community Events
Beyond brand-specific promotions, Lunar New Year in the U.S. is celebrated through various cultural activities, some of which may be free to the public. According to cultural guides, major cities often host events at places of cultural significance such as Chinatowns and East Asian gardens. These events can include lion dances, parades, and food stalls. Furthermore, free activities for families are commonly available, such as craft workshops, special movie screenings, and music events. To find specific events in a local area, consumers are advised to consult local event calendars or guides for Lunar New Year celebrations in the U.S.
The lion dance is a traditional performance symbolizing the warding off of evil spirits and the welcoming of strength, power, luck, and prosperity. These performances are often accompanied by firecrackers and are a central part of many public Lunar New Year celebrations.
Gift-giving is another core tradition, often symbolized by red envelopes (hóngbāo) containing money, which represent well-wishes for the coming year. For those looking to give digital gifts, some brands offer themed e-gift cards. For example, in celebration of the Year of the Snake, Prezzee offers a Lunar New Year Smart eGift Card decorated for the occasion.
Traditional Lunar New Year foods also carry symbolic meanings of fortune and prosperity. These include: * Fish (prosperity) * Spring rolls (wealth) * Dumplings (wealth) * Tangyuan – Sweet Rice Balls (family togetherness) * Tangerines, oranges, kumquats, pomelos, apples, and grapes (wealth and prosperity) * Niangao – Glutinous Rice Cake (a higher income or higher position) * Yi Mein ‘longevity’ noodles (happiness and longevity)
Conclusion
The 2025 Lunar New Year season provides U.S. consumers with a range of promotional opportunities, from digital game rewards to instant-win contests and special festival food items. Consumers can participate in daily freebies in the Brawl Stars mobile game, enter the Tsingtao instant-win contest for prizes including gift cards and a Las Vegas trip, or visit the Disneyland Resort to experience themed food and beverage offerings. Additionally, many local communities offer free cultural events and workshops. As with all promotions, participants should review the specific terms, eligibility requirements, and deadlines for each offer to ensure they can successfully participate and redeem any rewards.