Some lunar festivals did so with a greater police presence than they would have had before the shooter killed at least 11 people seven days earlier on the night of Jan. 21.
But at the events in Alhambra, Costa Mesa, Riverside and other cities around the region, the tragedy and loss of life was on the minds of organizers and guests.
“These acts of violence have no place in our community,” Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, said at the Riverside Lunar Festival’s opening ceremony, which included a moment of silence for the victims of California’s recent shootings.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass waves to the crowds during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, waves to the crowds during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A dragon marches during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Police Department motor units are seen during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A girl reacts after throwing a popper during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A woman wearing a traditional Chinese’s dress steps out in the street to pose for a picture during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Thousands look on during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A child wearing a dragon head looks on during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A dragon marches along Broadway during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Thousand look on as flag bearers carry the American flag during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A dragon marches along Broadway during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A dragon marches during the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
After a dance performance at the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival in Costa Mesa, a girl gathers confetti on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
At the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, guests bow their heads to pay respect to the victims of two mass shootings. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thien An Performing Arts members take part in the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two girls in the Thien An Performing Arts drum line make eye contact with each other during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Drum line performers with Thien An Performing Arts, take part in the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Gavin Nguyen, along with other Boy and Girl Scouts of Fountain Valley, takes part in a flag ceremony during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ryan But, 7, is hidden inside his lion dancer costume during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A singing of both the Vietnamese and the American National Anthems is part of the opening ceremony during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thien An Performing Arts dancers take part in the opening ceremonies during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Young drum line performers watch as older members of the group perform during the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Colorful lanterns adorn the three-day Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
At the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, guuest bowed their heads to remember the victims of two mass shootings and also the elderly and those who lost their lives to war.
(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests attend the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Traditional Chinese chicken skewers are barbecued at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A couple walks at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Miss Riverside Taylor Yamane, along with Miss Grand Terrace Raelence Sichmeller, pop confetti for the celebratory opening of the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A Shaolin Kungfu student performs on stage at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association performs a lion dance at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Traditional Chinese chicken skewers are barbecued at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Young performers practice as they watch others at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A young group of Shaolin Kungfu warriors show their skills on the stage at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Young performers wait their turn for the stage at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association performs a lion dance at the Riverside Lunar Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A family celebrates the Riverside Lunar Festival with a picnic on the grass Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
In Costa Mesa, the 41st Union of Vietnamese Student Associations’ Tet Festival continued Saturday at the OC Fair and Event Center and will conclude Sunday, Jan. 29.
The event included metal detectors and bag checks as well as a moment of silence Saturday to remember the Monterey Park victims. Outside the auditorium before the opening ceremony, Eileen Lee posed with friends in traditional Vietnamese clothing on an old rickshaw.
“We are very sad (about the killings) but it doesn’t prevent our celebration,” Lee said. “It’s New Year’s. It’s a very important holiday.”
In Los Angeles, crowds gathered Saturday for the Golden Dragon Lunar New Year Parade. The 124th parade was organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Chinatown.
The event featured dignitaries waving from cars, dragons and waving flags as a sea of spectators watched.
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“When I was trying to get in I had to go through a couple of different checkpoints, so I feel very safe right now,” said Aurora Bravo of Lynwood, whose daughter, Liana, participated in the parade with her dance studio.
“I think it’s great for the community, for moral support, everyone coming out and being there for each other,” Lawrence Wei, of Chinatown, said of the parade. “I think it’s definitely needed.”
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
The South Coast Botanic Garden held its first Lunar New Year Celebration Saturday January 28, 2023. The weekend event featured Lion dancers , fan dancers, Chinese lantern building along with games and entertainment. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
In the South Bay, South Coast Botanic Garden held its inaugural Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday with live performances from ACA Lion Dance (UCLA) and Wushu Shaolin Entertainment. The event also included paper lantern decorating and Chinese calligraphy demonstrations. The activities continue today, Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In the Inland Empire, the 11th annual Riverside Lunar Festival in downtown went on as planned.
Earlier in the week, Riverside police spokesperson Ryan Railsback said the department would boost the number of officers working security at the event. He said that it was hard to know if the mass shooting would affect turnout, but that he hoped people would come out.
Many did. Melody Mancinas, of Moreno Valley, said that she and her daughters Gia, 8; and Luna, 6; have been looking forward to this year’s festival.
“Last year was our first experience, and we really enjoyed it,” she said.
Saturday’s opening ceremony, which featured a drum performance by Senryu Taiko and a Dragon and Lion Dance, attracted a large audience. In an interview afterwards, President of Panana Events Te (Eric) Luan said that bringing people together was key to the celebration.
“Together we need to show our rich culture,” he said. “That’s why we have to break any barriers we have. People need to understand each other better.”
The Riverside festival will end Sunday, when the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown. Information can be found here.
Also set for Sunday is the 29th annual Lunar New Year Festival in Alhambra, where a week ago, the Monterey Park gunman was stopped by Brandon Tsay, who has been hailed as a hero.
The event, organized by the city and the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce, is set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Photographers Keith Birmingham and Mindy Schauer contributed to this report.
