Lunar New Year Celebration at Orange Grove Park | South Pasadenan

PRESS RELEASE

On Sunday, March 6, 2022, Marengo Elementary School PTA, in partnership with the City of South Pasadena and the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club (SPCC), was thrilled to welcome over 800 guests for a unique experience celebrating Lunar New Year . Year at Orange Grove Park in South Pasadena.

Although this event was originally scheduled for January 26, 2022, the surge in Covid-19 cases after the new year forced the committee to postpone the event. Despite the ever-changing sanitary requirements, the committee was able to organize a safe and sold-out outdoor event.

Children were given “passports” to stamp along the Great Race Trail – a trail lined with stalls sponsored by South Pasadena community organizations, Marengo Mandarin Dual Immersion classrooms and other sponsors highlighting the importance of the twelve zodiac animals.

Los Angeles-based Immortals lion dancers along with community leaders Mayor Michael Caccioti, Police Chief Brian Solinsky, Councilman Jon Primuth, Marengo Director Patricia Cheadle and SPCC Chairman Yuki Cutcheon, helped open the event with a traditional ceremony of painting the lion’s eyes to “wake them up”.

Other artists like a bian lian (who changes face) sponsored by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club and traditional Chinese musicians and kung fu artists sponsored by the US Asian Art and Culture Association performed throughout the day.

The trail ended with an inflatable triple slide which the kids enjoyed time and time again.

Families who pre-ordered boxes of dim sum samples or a box of mochi donuts from Pacific Culinary Group and boba drinks from Teamorrow spontaneously picnicked on the lawn of Orange Grove Park. It was a beautiful sunny day not only to celebrate the Year of the Tiger, but also to bring the community together again.