This weekend LA’s Chinatown celebrates the year of the dragon with the 113TH Annual Golden Dragon Parade. On Sat, Jan 28th 1pm-4pm hundreds of colorful floats, decorated cars, and dancers will parade from Hill and Ord Streets to Broadway and Cesar Chavez. Grand Marshals include Disney’s Mulan and Mushu and international bestselling author Lisa See. And if you like firecrackers, you are in for a good time. How does 500,000 firecrackers grab you?
The Year of the Dragon is a significant year in Asian tradition: the dragon is sacred and symbolizes strength, luck and new beginnings. Throughout Asia and also in the U.S. cities are preparing for this important time of year with much fanfare and celebration—this is especially true in Los Angeles’ most unique historic district, LA Chinatown. LA Chinatown hosts one of the largest New Year celebrations in the country with more than 125,000 attendees convening in the district for the weekend-long celebration.
The Chinese New Year Festival follows the parade with cultural performances like the modern lion dance and hoop juggling. Vendors will show their wares and there will be a multitude of hands-on cultural workshops. Chinese candy sculpture is so rad it’s almost magical.
Make sure to show up hungry. Attendees can expect specials offered at many Chinatown restaurants as well as non-traditional dishes offered by food vendors (we say pick up dim sum in the delis) and gourmet food trucks (we recommend King Kone).
Cultural performances will be on the main stage in Central Plaza. Central Plaza at 943-951 N. Broadway, Los Angeles 90012. The event will be at. Jan. 28 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. Jan. 29 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The 113th Annual Golden Dragon Parade is on Sat. Jan. 28 beginning at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Chinese New Year Festival visit www.chinatownla.com or call 213-680-0243.
Saturday, January 28th’s Festival Schedule
From 12pm-8pm
Central Plaza
943-951 N. Broadway
*Entertainment Stage:
12:00pm – East Wind Lion Dance Team
12:30pm – Modern Lion Dance, Straw hat Juggling, Mongolian Contortion, Hoop Diving
1:00pm – 4:00pm – DARK (PARADE)
4:00pm – 5:00pm – Chi of Shaolin – Tale of the Dragon
5:00pm – Jin Wu Shaolin Kung Fu School
5:30pm – Modern Lion Dance, Strawhat Juggling, Mongolian Contortion, Hoop Diving
6:00pm – Connie Lim
6:30pm – 7:30pm – Chi of Shaolin – Tale of the Dragon
7:30pm – Musical Art featuring Gianna Nguyen
*Cupcake Wars 1000 cupcake giveaway (Sat Only at dusk ~5pm/5:30pm)
*LA Craft Experience
*LA Food Trucks: Calbi BBQ, Crepe N Around, Crispy Waffle & Frite, Holy Aioli, Tropical Shave Ice, ZZ Truck
West Plaza Festival Schedule
943 N. Hill Street
*Cultural Artisans (calligraphy, dough sculpture, candy sculpture)
*Storytelling (Dragon tales)
*Art & Craft Workshops
*Chair Massage with Spaahbulous
Sunday, January 29th’s Festival Schedule
From 12pm-5pm
Central Plaza
943-951 N. Broadway
*Entertainment Stage:
12:00pm – East Wind Lion Dance, Chair Dance & Acrobatics, Strawhat Juggling, Mongolian Contortion, Hoop Diving
12:30pm – 1:30pm – Chi of Shaolin – Tale of the Dragon
1:30pm – Jin Wu Shaolin Kung Fu School
2:00pm – Chair Dance & Acrobatics, Strawhat Juggling, Mongolian Contortion, Hoop Diving
2:30pm – Traditional & Modern Dance Team
3:00pm – Andrew Figueroa Chiang and the Blazing Rays of the Sun
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Chi of Shaolin – Tale of the Dragon
4:30pm – Musical Art featuring Shin Kawasaki
*LA Craft Experience
*LA Food Trucks: Calbi BBQ, Crepe N Around, Don Chow, Grilled Cheese, Holy Aioli, King Kone LA (on Hill Street), MO Eggrolls, Tropical Shave Ice, ZZ Truck
West Plaza Festival Schedule
943 N. Hill Street
*Cultural Artisans (calligraphy, dough sculpture, candy sculpture)
*Storytelling (Dragon tales)
*Art & Craft Workshops
Photo and quote courtesy of Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
