• Irvine Insider
  • Posts
  • Lunar New Year Night Market Brings Food, Music, and Family Fun to Woodbury

Lunar New Year Night Market Brings Food, Music, and Family Fun to Woodbury

Issue # 0570

Author

Joshua Tjia
17 Feb

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🚧⚽️ Great Park Soccer Stadium to Add New Seating and Fan Amenities for 2026 Season

🌃🏮 Lunar New Year Night Market Brings Food, Music, and Family Fun to Woodbury

🧋🐎🧋 Lucky Flips & Free Drinks: Lunar New Year Fun at Cha for Tea

🪭🩰 Festival Ballet Theatre Brings “Don Quixote” to Irvine Barclay with Joffrey Ballet Guest Stars

♻️🗑️ Join the IUSD Recycling Challenge on February 21

🚑🩺 When Urgent Care Is the Right Choice—and When to Go to the ER

🦉🤎🦉Animal Partnerships That Keep Orange County’s Ecosystems Thriving

🎨 Arts in Irvine: Spring Fine Arts Classes and Summer Camps Now Open

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🦴🐕 Play Smart: Dog Park Safety Essentials

⛸️ Irvine Figure Skating Pair Keeps Olympic Dream Alive Despite 2026 Setback

🤽‍♀️ UC Irvine Women’s Water Polo Defeats Long Beach State, 15–13

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐Irvine Valley Men’s Volleyball Wins Second Straight, Tops El Camino 3–1

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏀 Portola Girls Basketball Upsets No. 1 Glendora, Advances in CIF Division 2 Playoffs

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🚨 Irvine Police Arrest Suspect Linked to Multi-County Business Burglaries

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

When does it rain money?

When there’s a change in the weather.

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

Great Park Soccer Stadium to Add New Seating and Fan Amenities for 2026 Season

The Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium is getting fan-focused upgrades for the 2026 season as Orange County Soccer Club partners with the City of Irvine to expand capacity and enhance the game-day experience. Fully funded by OCSC, the improvements add new seating options, VIP amenities, and family-friendly sections, with construction set to wrap up before the March 7 home opener against Las Vegas Lights.

Key Highlights:

  • Expanded stadium capacity following strong attendance and sold-out matches

  • New private group seating for corporate outings and community events

  • Additional reserved seating behind the goal and near the scoreboard with Fan Zone access

  • New VIP deck with food and beverage service, field views, mountain views, and Great Park Balloon views

  • Expanded Gnarlyville and Supporters’ Section, including the league’s only kids-only section

  • Tickets for new sections coming soon; more details to be announced

Lunar New Year Night Market Brings Food, Music, and Family Fun to Woodbury

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an evening of food and music at the Woodbury Night Market: Lunar New Year Edition on February 22 from 4–7 p.m. at Woodbury Town Center. This free, family-friendly event brings the community together with tasty bites, K-pop beats, and a show-stopping drone finale.

  • 🎧 K-pop DJ sets playing all evening

  • 🍜 Tasting booths featuring local favorites like Blk Dot Coffee, Paris Baguette, Shin Sen Gumi, Handel’s Ice Cream, Junbi Matcha & Tea, and more

  • 🛍️ Retail pop-ups & festive finds along City Stroll and near LA Fitness

  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly fun for all ages

  • ✨ Drone light show in the night sky from 6:45–7:00 p.m.

Lucky Flips & Free Drinks: Lunar New Year Fun at Cha for Tea

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Cha for Tea and try your luck in their fun Tile Flip Game for the Year of the Horse! Every purchase gives you a chance to flip a tile and win a festive freebie while enjoying your favorite drinks. 🧧🐎

What to Expect:

  • 🎲 One tile flip with every purchase

  • 🎁 Prizes include:

    • Free boba topping

    • Free Year of the Horse keychain

    • Free crispy chicken appetizer

    • Free any-size drink

Dates & Locations:

  • 📍 Campus — Tuesday, Feb 17 | 3–9 PM

  • 📍 Woodbridge Village Center — Saturday, Feb 21 | 1–7 PM

Sip, flip, and celebrate the New Year! 🎉🧋

Festival Ballet Theatre Brings “Don Quixote” to Irvine Barclay with Joffrey Ballet Guest Stars

Festival Ballet Theatre returns to the Irvine Barclay Theatre this spring with its full-length production of Don Quixote, featuring Joffrey Ballet guest artists Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez as Kitri and Basilio. Performances take place Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ classic tale and set to Ludwig Minkus’ energetic score, the production celebrates the color, passion, and bravura of 17th-century Spain, with high-energy ensemble dancing and the iconic Grand Pas de Deux anchoring this lively ballet favorite.

Join the IUSD Recycling Challenge on February 21

Join IUSD’s Recycling Event on Saturday, February 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Irvine Unified District Office and help earn cash and prizes for your school. Students are invited to bring recyclables collected at home and school for a fun, friendly competition.

What to Bring (Bagged & Clean):

  • ♻️ Mixed paper & cardboard (mail, newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes)

  • 🥤 CRV cans & bottles (bag separately from paper)

  • 🧃 Cartons & juice boxes

  • 💻 E-waste (small electronics)

Quick Notes: Empty all liquids. No batteries, lighting, or large appliances accepted.

When Urgent Care Is the Right Choice—and When to Go to the ER

Urgent care can often provide faster treatment than the emergency room for non-life-threatening conditions, according to UCI Health physicians. Knowing which symptoms are appropriate for urgent care—and which require an ER visit—can help patients get timely and appropriate care.

  • Urgent care is best for mild to moderate issues, including sprains, sports injuries, minor cuts and lacerations, rashes, cold and flu symptoms, cough, fever, mild stomach pain, urinary symptoms, and bumps or bruises.

  • Emergency rooms are needed for serious symptoms, such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath after light activity, or neurological concerns.

  • Certain conditions are outside urgent care’s scope, including head injuries in people taking blood-thinning medications.

  • Choosing the right setting can reduce wait times and ensure patients receive the level of care their condition requires.

Animal Partnerships That Keep Orange County’s Ecosystems Thriving

Strong partnerships are essential for survival in the wild. Across Orange County, many animals rely on lasting bonds and teamwork to raise young, find food, and protect their habitats, and many of these animals can be spotted in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

  • Great Horned Owls: Lifelong pairs that return to the same mate and nesting territory, communicating with deep hoots at dusk.

  • Mourning Doves: Long-term partners that raise multiple broods together and are often seen perched side by side.

  • Red-Tailed Hawks: Seasonal partners that reunite at the same nest each year, marked by dramatic aerial courtship flights.

  • California Quail: Bonded pairs that work together to care for chicks in close-knit family groups.

  • Coyotes: Lifelong mates that share hunting, territory defense, and pup-rearing duties.

Arts in Irvine: Spring Fine Arts Classes and Summer Camps Now Open

Registration for spring Irvine Fine Arts Center classes and summer camps is now open. Residents can sign up for a wide range of courses for all ages and skill levels—including culinary arts, painting, photography, flower arranging, mosaics, jewelry, and ceramics—through cityofirvine.org/yourirvine.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://timbmusic.org/events/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. February 26-28: Cinderella Musical, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. February 26-28, TBD: Cinderella, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. February 21: CSUF SSAA Festival, CSU-Fullerton

  2. February 25-28, 7:00 PM: Seussical, IHS PAC

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.ihschoralmusic.org/calendar.html 

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

Play Smart: Dog Park Safety Essentials

Dog parks can be a great place for dogs to socialize, exercise, and burn off energy— here are some tips to help protect your dog’s health, prevent conflicts, and make park time fun for everyone.

Dog Park Safety Tips

  • Check with your veterinarian: Make sure your dog’s age, health, and temperament are a good fit for dog park play.

  • Keep vaccinations up to date: Protect against easily spread illnesses like distemper, Bordetella (kennel cough), and leptospirosis.

  • Use parasite preventives: Help prevent fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms from coming home with your dog.

  • Avoid peak hours: Less crowded parks reduce the risk of injuries and overwhelming situations.

  • Skip treats and toys: These can trigger competition or conflict with other dogs.

  • Bring fresh water: A bottle and portable bowl help keep your dog hydrated during play.

  • Mind your dog’s behavior: Be ready to step in if play gets too rough or manners slip.

  • Always supervise: Staying alert allows you to address issues before they escalate.

Irvine Figure Skating Pair Keeps Olympic Dream Alive Despite 2026 Setback

An Olympic dream will have to wait a little longer for an Irvine-trained figure skating duo. Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman placed third at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but they are unable to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics because Parkman has not yet obtained U.S. citizenship. While McBeath is a U.S. citizen, Parkman remains a citizen of Georgia, and Olympic rules require athletes to hold the passport of the country they represent. Recently approved for a Green Card, Parkman is now on the path toward citizenship, and the pair remains encouraged as they prepare to represent the United States at the World Championships in March and set their sights on the 2030 Winter Olympics.

UC Irvine Women’s Water Polo Defeats Long Beach State, 15–13

UC Irvine women’s water polo outlasted Long Beach State, 15–13, to finish seventh at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. Junior Annabelle Mundelius led UCI with four goals as the Anteaters held off a late rally.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  • Tue, Feb 17 – vs San Diego State, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs California, 6:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

  • Thu, Feb 19 – vs Long Beach State, 6:00 PM

Women’s Water Polo

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs UC San Diego, 6:00 PM

Women’s Tennis

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Portland, 6:00 PM

Irvine Valley Men’s Volleyball Wins Second Straight, Tops El Camino 3–1

Irvine Valley College’s men’s volleyball team earned its second straight win, defeating El Camino 3–1 at home on Friday to improve to 3-3 on the season. Freshman Conor Engelbrecht led the Lasers with 13 kills while hitting .355 and adding 10 digs, and libero Cage Gonzalez posted a team-high 15 digs.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Baseball

  • Tue, Feb 17 – vs Grossmont, 1:00 PM

Men’s Tennis

  • Thu, Feb 19 – vs Mt. San Antonio, 2:00 PM

Men’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Long Beach, 6:00 PM

Women’s Flag Football

  • Wed, Feb 18 – vs Southwestern, 3:00 PM

Women’s Beach Volleyball

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Cerritos, 10:00 AM

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Cal State Los Angeles, 12:00 PM

Portola Girls Basketball Upsets No. 1 Glendora, Advances in CIF Division 2 Playoffs

Portola’s girls basketball team pulled off a major upset, defeating top-seeded Glendora 44–34 to advance to the CIF Division 2 quarterfinals, snapping Glendora’s 11-game win streak. Senior Amelia Booth led the Bulldogs with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With February Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

February 2026

Tuesday, February 17

  • Baseball - 3:15 PM vs Costa Mesa

  • Tennis, Boys - 3:15 PM vs Capistrano Valley

  • Softball - 3:30 PM vs El Toro

Thursday, February 19

  • Tennis, Boys - 3:15 PM vs El Toro

  • Beach Volleyball, Girls - 3:30 PM vs Mission Viejo

Saturday, February 21

  • Baseball - 11:00 AM vs Capistrano Valley

Irvine Police Arrest Suspect Linked to Multi-County Business Burglaries

Irvine Police investigated a January 5 burglary at a business on Goddard Street involving more than $5,000 in stolen merchandise and determined the same suspects were responsible for an earlier October 2025 burglary at the same location totaling $7,000 in losses, as well as additional business burglaries across Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego counties. Working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, Irvine detectives identified and arrested a 21-year-old suspect, Armando Ramirez Garcia, in Los Angeles. He was booked into Orange County Jail on burglary charges.

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

We could use your help

We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!

One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.

Know somebody who lives in the Irvine and surrounding areas and would benefit from being kept in the know?

Please share Irvine Insider with them! It’s simple!