By Jim Carchidi
February 12, 2026
Asian-owned businesses in the Mills 50 district will celebrate the Year of the Horse with a schedule of Lunar New Year events presented by Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Temple starting Sunday, Feb. 15.
Ensuring a Happy New Year
Wah Lum trainers prepare students of every age level for the Lunar New Year performances. Photos by Jim Carchidi
Spectators react as thousands of firecrackers are set off to scare away evil spirits.
The celebrations are a blend of culture and business with the traditional lion dance and firecrackers meant to chase bad luck away and promote prosperity for the coming year. Events are organized and presented by the Wah Lum performance team, made up of skilled students who demonstrate the Wah Lum style at events and competitions throughout the year.
A family affair
The temple was founded by Pui Chan: a grand master of Wah Lum Tam Tui Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu and a 33rd generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple. He escaped Chinese government oppression in 1968 and moved to Boston where he began teaching the Wah Lum technique. Chan relocated his family to Orlando in 1980 and built the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple to share and teach the art form.
Pui Chan achieved the status of kung fu grand master before moving to the United States and still practices the art at the age of 87.
Pui's daughter Mimi reached the level of sifu (master trainer) at a young age and leads the performance team.
The Wah Lum performance team produces demonstrations for community events throughout Central Florida and has performed at Disney's EPCOT park.
Chan celebrated his 87th birthday in October and continues to practice Kung fu while overseeing temple operations with his family. His daughter Mimi, a multiple Grand Championship title winner, oversees Wah Lum training and events in addition to her advocacy work in the Asian community. During a 1995 visit to the Orlando offices of the Disney Animation Studio, Mimi was chosen by supervising animator Mark Henn as the model for Mulan. She performed martial arts moves on video for animation references.
2026 Performance schedule
The Wah Lum 2026 Lunar New Year performance schedule is as follows:
Sunday, Feb. 15
12 p.m. Phoc Loc Tho, 1200 E. Colonial Dr.
1:15 p.m. Mei’s Supermarket, 10681 E. Colonial Dr.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
8:15 a.m. Wah Lum Temple, 851 N. Goldenrod Rd
11:45 a.m. Anh Hong, 1124 E. Colonial Dr.
12:15 a.m. Paris Banh Mi, 1021 E. Colonial Dr.
12:40 a.m. Than Law P.A., 1829 E. Colonial Dr.
1:15 p.m. iFresh Market, 2415 E. Colonial Dr.
2:15 p.m. Pho Huong Lan 2, 5600 W. Colonial Dr.
4:30 p.m. Moa Kai, 2217 E. Colonial Dr.
5 p.m. Mills Market, 1110 E. Colonial Dr.
5:30 p.m. Poke Hana, 1225A E. Colonial Dr.
6 p.m. Chi Kin, 813 N. Mills Ave.
6:30 p.m. Lam’s Garden, 2505 E. Colonial Dr.
7:15 p.m. The Moderne 1241 E. Colonial Dr.
Saturday, Feb. 21
1 p.m. Crazy Buffet, 7038 W. Colonial Drive.
Sunday, Feb. 22
11 a.m. Central Florida Dragon Parade, 728 N. Thornton Ave.
For more information and updates, log onto the Wah Lum Kung Fu Facebook page and Central Florida Dragon Parade web page.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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