Happy New Year Again!

Long Beach has the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia and Cambodian New Year is a great time to get a taste of all things Cambodian from spicy beef sticks and green papaya salad to Buddhist blessings, Chayam drummers and celestial Apsara dancers. The biggest public events are the Cambodian New Year Festival on Saturday and the Cambodian New Year Parade on Sunday.
What: Cambodian New Year Festival
When: Saturday, April 15, 2006 from 9 - 5
Where: El Dorado Regional Park East, Area III, off the 605 Freeway at Spring St. in Long Beach. Map
Cost: $30 per car for the festival plus $6 park entry. For $20 advance tickets, check website.
Tip: Up to 20,000 people show up for this event so it can take a long time to get in the park, especially after about 10:30 a.m. Additional park entrances may be open at Wardlow and Carson. The Buddhist monks come and offer New Year blessings before 11 a.m. Food is available for sale, but families also bring picnics.
Official Website

What: Cambodian New Year Parade and Festivities
When: Sunday, April 16, 2006, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Parade route runs 10 blocks along Anaheim St. from Junipero to Orange Ave. with festivities afterwards at MacArthur Park. Map and Parking
Cost: Free
Official Website

Photo © 2006 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com