116th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and Chinese New Year Festival

Garland Dyer
February 16, 2015
Filed under Arts

Monkeys and acrobats and dragons! Not to mention live music performances, street vendors, ping pong, craft beer, and magicians. An evening delighted with Asian cuisine, culture, tradition and art describes the upcoming 116th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and Chinese New Year Festival.

The free event is held in Chinatown in Los Angeles from 12p.m. to 9p.m. on February 21st. Approximately 110,000 people are expected to attend. From food trucks, photo booths, a culinary demonstration, face painting, calligraphy lessons, clay sculptures, and even a capuchin monkey and trainer all ages can enjoy an abundance of events.

Government officials, various Chinese family head dignitaries, approximately two-dozen floats, local cultural leaders and groups will be in attendance. The Golden Dragon Parade takes place from 1p.m. to 3p.m. as it commences from Hill and Ord Street and ends at North Broadway and Cesar Chavez.

Leading the parade will be the Grand Marshall, who in the past included people such as Bruce Lee, David Carradine, Keye Luke from the television series “Kung Fu”, Hugh Hefner, Lindsey Wagner from “Bionic Woman”, Dr. Haing S. Ngor from “The Killing Fields”, Kieu Chinh from the “Joy Luck Club”, and Garrett Wong from television series Star “Trek Voyagers”. The Grand Marshall has not been announced and will remain a surprise.

The coming of the Chinese New Year not only attracts 1.5 million Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese residents; it also exposes local residents from Los Angeles about Chinese culture, ethnic diversity, and Chinese-American businesses dignitaries, approximately two-dozen floats, local cultural leaders and groups will be in attendance. The Golden Dragon Parade takes place from 1p.m. to 3p.m. as it commences from Hill and Ord Street and ends at North Broadway and Cesar Chavez.

Leading the parade will be the Grand Marshall, who in the past included people such as Bruce Lee, David Carradine, Keye Luke from the television series “Kung Fu”, Hugh Hefner, Lindsey Wagner from “Bionic Woman”, Dr. Haing S. Ngor from “The Killing Fields”, Kieu Chinh from the “Joy Luck Club”, and Garrett Wong from television series Star “Trek Voyagers”. The Grand Marshall has not been announced and will remain a surprise.

The coming of the Chinese New Year not only attracts 1.5 million Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese residents; it also exposes local residents from Los Angeles about Chinese culture, ethnic diversity, and Chinese-American businesses.

Chinese New Year is the longest public holiday in China and has a 4,000-year-old tradition. The holiday originated from a belief in deities, people were sacrificed every year to bring good fortune to their crops, health, and prosperity. Firecrackers awaken the resting spirits and dragon dancers honor their ancestors. Red decorations often paint the scene to show signs of prosperity and wealth.

Event spectators will be delighted with the various surplus of food that will include fish, dumplings, spring rolls, rice cakes, sweet rice balls, and various other Chinese foods.