Mira Mesa is out and the waterfront is in. The San Diego Tết Festival is packing up after a decade in its old neighborhood and heading to NTC Park at Liberty Station for its 21st edition this Friday through Sunday. The free, three-day celebration is bringing its lion dances, bustling night market, carnival rides and the Miss Vietnam San Diego pageant to a bigger, breezier stage.
The 21st annual festival runs this Friday through Sunday with an opening ceremony, live performances and vendor-lined night markets. Organizers say the event pulls in more than 30,000 attendees each year, and admission is staying free. As detailed by There San Diego, the opening ceremony will feature lion dancing, firecrackers and “lucky red envelopes,” with the Miss Vietnam San Diego pageant set for Saturday night.
What To Expect
The festival program leans into a mix of tradition and late-night market energy. Lion dance troupes, taiko drumming, live Vietnamese pop, dance battles and family-focused stages will share the grounds with dozens of food vendors and a full carnival, so no one is leaving hungry or bored.
KPBS reports that organizers, the Vietnamese American Youth Alliance, have layered in new activations this year, including a feature with 10e0o Distillery and a Pokémon trading-card show that should keep younger fans (and more than a few adults) busy between performances.
Venue And Capacity
NTC Park at Liberty Station, listed at 2455 Cushing Rd, includes Preble Field and multiple event greens designed to handle large-scale gatherings. Liberty Station notes that permits are required for big events on the property.
There San Diego reports that the festival typically draws more than 30,000 people, a primary reason organizers opted to relocate from Mira Mesa to a roomier waterfront setting that can better absorb the crowds, stages and full carnival build-out.
Getting There
Transit is expected to be a big part of the plan. MTS recommends Route 28 to reach Liberty Station and notes that the festival footprint sits between The Lot and the Rady Childrens Ice Rink. The agency encourages riders to use PRONTO for transfers, lists festival hours as Friday evening plus full days Saturday and Sunday, and warns that neighborhood parking can get tight during large events.
Volunteers with the Vietnamese American Youth Alliance told SDVoyager that the move comes after roughly a decade in Mira Mesa and reflects a straightforward need: more space for stages, carnival equipment and cultural exhibits. Organizers say Liberty Station’s larger footprint will let them expand programming while keeping the festival free and firmly community-focused.
On the practical side, expect carnival rides to require paid tickets, bring ear protection for young children because of the firecracker displays and double-check leash rules if you are thinking of bringing pets. The Coronado Times highlights the role of firecrackers in Tết celebrations along with family-safety reminders, and the festival’s official site has vendor lists, schedules and volunteer information at sdtet.com.
.jpg){kind=link}