Lantern Festival in San Gabriel (Photo – Cheryl Cabot)
The City of San Gabriel celebrated the conclusion of the Chinese New Year with a two-day festival on February 17 & 18.
By Cheryl Cabot
Approximately 30,000 people came out to enjoy the Lunar Lantern Festival in the Mission District of San Gabriel.
Spearheaded by Councilmembers John Wu and Tony Ding, the event was sponsored by radio KAZN AM 1300. “The event was amazing!” Councilman Ding said, “the crowd was huge. The radio station is well known and drew a large crowd, many who wanted to meet the famous KAZN radio personalities, Zhong Xun (Felix Guo) and Gao Ning (Nick Gao) hosts of the popular morning program, “Today’s Topic.”
Approximately 180 vendors, including food, entertainment, non-profit organizations, as well as a carnival, and a petting zoo, filled the Mission parking lot as well as Mission Street. A booth where children could make their own dragon lanterns, celebrating the Year of the Dragon, was a popular attraction.
“The Lantern Festival actually falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year,” Ding stated.
The roots of the Lantern Festival trace back more than 2,000 years, and it is popularly linked to the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty. Children would carry handmade lanterns through the streets alongside their parents. This tradition fostered community engagement, as families took to the streets at night, greeting neighbors and enjoying the company of one another under the soft glow of lantern light.
According to Councilman Wu, “The Lantern Festival marks the conclusion of the Lunar New Year celebrations, and it’s a distinctive event that sets the City of San Gabriel apart from similar festivities in neighboring cities. This focus on the Lantern Festival, rather than solely emphasizing the Lunar New Year, allows San Gabriel to offer a unique cultural experience. Lanterns symbolize new beginnings and the fulfillment of wishes, holding profound sentimental value for many Asian American families, reminiscent of cherished memories shared with loved ones.”
Dignitaries throughout the San Gabriel Valley attended the opening ceremony of the San Gabriel Lantern Festival (Photos – Cheryl Cabot)
Scenes from the two-day San Gabriel Lantern Festival, Feb. 17 & 18, 2024 (Photos – Cheryl Cabot)
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