Los Angeles, finally basking (and baking) in the heat of summer, is gearing up to usher in the season with an annual municipal rite of passage: the 36th Lotus Festival at Echo Park Lake, to be held July 9 and 10 beginning at noon on both days. And this year, South Korea will be the host country for the first time in 10 years.
The festival, which was first put on in 1972, is one of the city’s largest celebrations of Asian and Pacific Islander awareness. Each year the free event selects a different nation to spotlight. Organized by the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks, in conjunction with the L.A. Korean Festival Foundation, which oversees the Los Angeles Korean Festival, the festival will highlight Korean culture through performances and activities for the 200,000 visitors expected this year.
Echo Park Lake once teemed with lotus plants, whose blooming flowers would symbolize the beginning of summer. But climate change has decreased their numbers. With the return of the Lotus Festival, the lake will see teams of people participating in the popular Dragon Boat Race, while others will munch on Asian food and drinks, shop at booths and learn more about APA culture.
“We are thrilled to showcase the Republic of Korea through our annual event that provides kids and families in the community a great opportunity to visit the beautiful Echo Park Lake and have fun while learning about the different cultures that make up Los Angeles,” said Michael A. Shull, recreation and parks general manager.
Mike Kim, executive director of the festival foundation, said plans for a pavilion showcasing Korean instruments, paper folding demonstrations and traditional games are underway. The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles will set up a green screen photo booth, and there will be opportunities to try on hanbok, Korean traditional clothing, he said. Dancers and taekwondo demonstrators will give attendees a taste of Korea.
“The Lotus Festival is a festival for the whole city,” Kim said. “It’s going to be a great outlet to promote Korean culture, to promote Korea.”
