East County is celebrating a rare year in Chinese astrology: 2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse, the first since 1966, and local communities are joining the festivities in style.

The Fire Horse year, which carries themes of bold energy and transformation, occurs only once every 60 years. In Chinese astrology, the Horse represents freedom and speed, while the Fire element adds intensity and momentum — what practitioners describe as a year for “burning away the old” to make room for breakthroughs.

Local Lunar New Year events are taking place Saturday, Feb. 21. At Sycuan Casino Resort, Lion Dances are weaving through the casino floor and the Pink Buddha Pan-Asian restaurant is offering a specialized menu. At Barona Resort & Casino and Viejas Casino & Resort, guests can find Year of the Horse-themed promotions and festive décor. Pala Casino Resort is hosting a firecracker blessing and lion dancers starting at 3 p.m. In Poway, traditional Chinese dance, martial arts and folk music are taking center stage.

For residents who prefer a more charitable way to mark the horse’s year, the Horses of Tir Na Nog sanctuary in Alpine has launched a fitting campaign. The nonprofit has announced a $55,000 matching gift challenge for its monthly giving program, called “Feed Posse.” Running through Feb. 5, 2027 — the full Year of the Horse — new monthly donors will have their contributions doubled, and current members who increase their giving will also see that increase matched dollar-for-dollar. Monthly feed costs at the sanctuary regularly exceed $15,000.

The celebrations also have a cultural storytelling element: the Fire Horse is so rare that many families mark milestone events — births, businesses, decisions — against its backdrop for the rest of their lives. The next Fire Horse year will not arrive until 2086.