[photo credit: Southern California Children’s Museum]
The event is the museum’s flagship fundraiser, according to the museum. “Join us for our 2026 Gala to celebrate Lunar New Year and raise funds that will continue to support and grow the work of bringing play-based learning to every child in our community,” the museum announced Jan. 13, 2026.
The gala follows what the museum calls a record-breaking year, during which it served nearly 24,000 children and families. “Play isn’t just fun, it’s fundamental,” the museum stated. “Together, we’re championing play as the foundation for creativity, curiosity and lifelong learning.”
The museum, at 459 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, is collaborating with the USC Pacific Asia Museum on joint Lunar New Year programming, broadening the cultural reach of the fundraiser beyond the gala itself.
Tickets are $250 per person, according to the museum. Patron packages range from $500 to $5,000 and include reserved seating, donor recognition, museum memberships and raffle tickets. No overall fundraising goal has been publicly disclosed.
The Southern California Children’s Museum 2026 Lunar New Year Gala will run on Friday, March 6, at 6 p.m. Golden Dragon Restaurant, 960 N. Broadway, Los Angeles. For more information, call (626) 657-0357 or visit https://socalkids.org/gala/#toggle-id-1. Ticket prices: $250 single ticket; $500 “Lucky Bamboo” (two); $1,500 “Laughing Buddha” (four); $3,000 “Peonies & Peach Blossoms” (six); $5,000 “Auspicious Dragon” (eight).
