Cambodian New Year in Long Beach, Thai New Year in Hollywood 2009
Friday March 27, 2009
We just finished Persian New Year and the Cambodian and Thai New Year is almost upon us. With the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia, Long Beach is the place to celebrate Cambodian New Year. Events are split into two weekends. First is the Cambodian New Year Parade down Anaheim Street this Saturday, which begins with an interfaith blessing at Anaheim and Junipero and ends with a festival stage at the corner of Walnut. April 25 is the larger Cambodian New Year Festival which will draw about 20,000 people to El Dorado Park. Suor sdey chnam thmei! Happy Cambodian New Year!What: Cambodian New Year Parade
When: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 9:00 am Blessing followed by parade, stage performances until 4 pm
Where: Anaheim Street in Long Beach from Junipero to Orange, stage at Walnut
Cost: Free
Info: www.cam-cc.org
What: Cambodian New Year Festival
When: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 10 am - 5 pm
Where: El Dorado Regional Park, Area III, 7550 East Spring Street
Cost: Park Fee $7/vehicle. Advance festival tickets $23/vehicle, festival day $30/vehicle.
Tickets: Advance tickets can be purchased at local Cambodian businesses (see website for list) beginning March 28, 2009. Same day tickets can be purchased at the El Dorado Public Library Parking Lot at 2900 North Studebaker Road (8 am - 2 pm).
Info: www.cam-cc.org
The Thai communities in Hollywood and North Hollywood are the place to be for the Thai New Year Sangkran Festivals on Sunday, April 5, 2009 and the weekend of April 11-12. The first event includes the LA Curry Festival and the Miss Thai New Year Pageant. Both events have lots of Thai food and dance as well as other New Year customs.
What: Sangkran Thai New Year Street Fair
When: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 10 am - 7 pm
Where: Hollywood Blvd will be blocked off between Western and Normandy
Cost: Free
Info: www.thainewyear.com, http://thaicdchome.org/cms/festival/
What: Sangkran New Year Festival at Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in North Hollywood.
When: April 11-12, 2009
Where: Wat Thai Buddhist Temple, 12936 Burton St, North Hollywood, CA 91605
Parking: Free shuttle from Kaiser Permanente Hospital parking
Info: (818) 780-4200, www.watthaiusa.org.
Photo © 2004 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
We went to the Sangkran festivals in LA this year and had a wonderful time. Thank you Kayte, for posting about it as it was not well promoted and I may have missed it if it were not for your postings.