Tiger Town
The 19th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration kicks off Saturday
By Carl Kozlowski 02/04/2010
LIVING NEAR PASADENA MEANS BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE ON THE GRANDEST possible scale on New Year’s Day, when hundreds of thousands of people converge on the Crown City for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl college football game.
For some, that might be enough good times to last an entire year. But for much of the West San Gabriel Valley, the New Year is only now beginning — the Lunar New Year, celebrated by the Chinese-American community.
This is the Year of the Tiger on the lunar calendar, and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the cities of Alhambra and San Gabriel — nestled in the heart of one of the largest Asian-American enclaves in the country — will be teaming up to present the 19th Annual Lunar New Year Festival.
The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. with a parade along Valley Boulevard, from Del Mar Avenue in San Gabriel to Almansor Street in Alhambra.
After that, more than 25,000 people are expected to flock to a bevy of attractions, among them 250 booths and exhibits, as well as a number of musical entertainment options lined up between Almansor Street and Garfield Avenue in Alhambra.
Some of the sights awaiting festival-goers include the latest models of Toyota cars, as well as floral exhibits and calligraphy displays. There will also be photo opportunities with Pasadena Tournament of Roses Queen Natalie Innocenzi and her court, as well as a stage where children can have photos taken while dressed in a variety of ethnic costumes.
Add in lots of fun foods, silhouette puppet shows and a wide variety of cultural and modern performances, plus a Chase Bank-sponsored money vault in which participants can play “grab the money,” and it’s a full day of fun and excitement for everyone to enjoy. Best of all, admission is free and there is plenty of parking on the streets, as well as at adjacent shopping centers.
For more information about the Lunar New Year Festival, call (626) 395-9995 or visit lunarnewyearparade.com.
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