Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival (Photo – alhambranewyearfestival.com).
Celebrations of the Lunar New Year will go on as scheduled in most San Gabriel Valley cities.
By Jerry Friedman
Alhambra
Alhambra released a statement which said that Sheriff Luna has confirmed that the tragic events of Saturday night were not related to the Lunar new year festival, and the suspect is no longer a threat to the community. He added that additional resources from the Alhambra Police department would be on hand to reassure those participating in the celebrations.
Alhambra will have a day-long celebration of the new year on January 29, 2023 starting at 9:00 am and running until 6:00 pm, all along Main Street, downtown. There will be Lion Dancers, cultural pavilions, activity booths, lots of performances in the street, and of course, plenty of food, and merchandise. The City will also honor Brandon Tsay, the man who disarmed Monterey Park mass shooter, with a Medal of Bravery. The ceremony will take place at 12:30 pm at the main stage. Additional educational/cultural events at the library will be held through this month and on into February.
San Gabriel
San Gabriel praised the “…firefighters and police officers [who] provided care and protection to the victims in the aftermath of the shooting…” Additional resources were identified for those who may need support (dial 988, or calling the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s helpline at (800) 854-7771. Resources in many languages are available online at dmh.lacounty.gov).
San Gabriel hosts one of the largest Lunar festivals in the region. There will be chalk art, a Street food fair, a KPOP dance cover contest, a marketplace, and many sponsored activities.
“The safety of our community is of utmost importance to us. Additional law enforcement and security resources will be present throughout the event,” the city assured the public.
The event will feature:
- Opening ceremony with a lion dance and a dragon dance
- Complimentary guided walking tours of the Mission District from noon to 4 p.m., with two special tours led by Mayor Tony Ding
- A full day of cultural music and dance performances by various schools in the San Gabriel Valley
- 80+ food and artisanal booths
- A kids’ zone
In addition, attendees are invited to create a joint community art piece – A Rainbow of Peace Cranes – in recognition of the Monterey Park tragedy and its impact on cities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Celebration kicks off at 10:00 am Saturday Feb. 4, 2023, and will run until 9:00 pm in the San Gabriel Mission District.
> A full list of local events is available here.
Leave a Reply