Lotus Festival returns to Echo Park Lake
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KABC) -- The Department of Recreation and Parks and the Council of Oriental Organizations presented The Los Angeles Lotus Festival on Saturday, July 12, through Sunday, July 13, in Echo Park Lake.
Back for its 44th year, this vibrant festival celebrated AAPI culture and honored the diverse Asian Pacific Islander communities of Southern California.
The ABC7 Street Team was there on Sunday, handing out ABC7-branded gear with our spinning prize wheel and taking photos with our free photo booth.
This year's theme is all about the sacred lotus flower, symbolizing rebirth, purity, and life. Echo Park Lake is home to the largest lotus bed in the country.
Attendees enjoyed dragon boat races, live music, dance performances, cultural exhibitions, and popular Asian youth programs.
Since 1972, the festival has transformed through challenges and financial cuts. The festival underwent a renaissance in 1990 as "The Festival of the People and Culture of the Pacific Rim."
General admission was free and open to all ages. While most activities and performances are complimentary, some special attractions may, however, require separate ticket purchases.
