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Nowruz, aka Iranian New Year or Persian New Year, will start at the moment of the spring equinox. The event marks the celebration of the New Year, the arrival of spring and the rebirth of nature. It is also for exchanging greetings and spreading love and cheer. This year it begins on Thursday, March 20 and ends on Friday, March 21, 2025. It’s a holy day for Baha’is, Zoroastrians and some Muslim communities, but most people celebrate it as a secular holiday. It is estimated it will be celebrated by over 300 million people around the world.
The largest free celebration of Nowruz in the United States is at UCLA. The 15th Annual Celebration of Nowruz at UCLA’s Dickson Court on March 9, 2025, from 12 pm to 5 pm. It is free and open to all.
Ring in the New Year with the Farhang Foundation in this free celebration. There will be live performances by
- Kamar
- La Daf Ensemble
- Shally Zomorodi
- Malieka Fathi Dance Company
- Negar Estakhr and Maryam Rasekh Puppet Show
- The Firuze Dance Company
- Children’s Activities
- DJ Arin
- Stilt Walkers
There will be a Persian Tea House serving Tea, Shirini, Persian Sandwiches, Ice Cream and other sweets.
Parking is available at UCLA’s Parking Structure #2.
Persian Cuisine
If you enjoyed the Persian food at the festival and you want to learn more about Persian cooking, try these cookbooks. You can use our links to see how you can save money on them.
- Bottom of the Pot: Persian Recipes and Stories by Naz Deravian
- Food of Life: Ancient Persia & Modern Iranian Cooking & Ceremonies by Nejmieh Batmanglij
- Joon: Persian Cooking Made Simple by Najmieh Batmanglij
Hotel Deals
If you’d like to visit Los Angeles for this celebration, you should consider the following hotels. They are near UCLA and you can save money if you book them here.