The audience watches the Chinatown Children’s Parade and Costume Contest. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
By Assunta Ng
The snow and rain destroyed business in Chinatown/International District during the past two weeks. Restaurants and stores were forced to shut down.
Fortunately, the ID was spared from rain for two important days, Jan. 21 and Jan. 28, when we celebrated the Year of the Dragon with a festival. I could not believe the hundreds of people who packed the Hing Hay Park tent before 11 a.m., before the program even started.
Although it was cold, people were in good spirits. The event this year was the most successful in terms of attracting the largest number of mainstream folks to the ID. Lots of people lined up outside many restaurants for a food walk.
There were more lion and dragon dances during the five-hour celebration, a record-breaking number for the ID. We couldn’t have picked better days for celebrating the Lunar New Year. The Year of the Dragon does have its magic! (end)