MEDIA 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) were thrilled to welcome more than 800 guests to a unique walk-thru experience celebrating the Lunar New 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 constantly changing health requirements, the committee was able to organize a safe, sold-out, outdoor event.
Kids were given “passports” to have stamped along the Great Race trail – a trail lined with booths sponsored by South Pasadena community organizations, Marengo Mandarin Dual Immersion classrooms and other sponsors highlighting the significance of the twelve zodiac animals.
Lion dancers from L.A.-based Immortals along with community leaders, Mayor Michael Caccioti, Police Chief Brian Solinsky, Councilman Jon Primuth, Marengo Principal Patricia Cheadle, and SPCC President Yuki Cutcheon, helped open the event with a traditional ceremony of painting the eyes of the lion to “awaken” them.
Other performers such as a bian lian (face-changing) performer sponsored by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club and traditional Chinese musicians and kung fu artists sponsored by the U.S. Asian Art and Culture Association performed throughout the day.
The trail ended with an inflatable triple slide that kids enjoyed over and over again.
Families who pre-ordered dim sum sampler boxes or a mochi donut box from Pacific Culinary Group and boba drinks from Teamorrow spontaneously picnicked on the lawn of Orange Grove Park. It was a beautiful, sunny day to not only celebrate the Year of the Tiger, but to also bring the community together again.
