The Lunar New Year has officially started, and pigs are like soooo last year. To usher in the Year of the Mouse and Rat, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles is hosting the 109th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and festival on February 9th and 10th. Performers from Beijing will lead the parade, followed by assorted city officials (Villaraigosa et al.), Mickey Mouse as grand Marshall, flower drum dances, a plethora of beauty queens, and lots of floats, costumes, and dragons.

109th Annual Golden Dragon Parade
February 9th
2:00PM to 5:00PM
Parade route starts at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Broadway, and will follow Broadway and Hill Streets in Chinatown.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has also organized a Lunar New Year Festival with martial arts demonstrations, Chinese acrobats, Chinese and Korean pop bands, food, carnival games, lion dancers, and activities for children.

Lunar New Year Festival
Saturday, February 9th
10:00AM to 8:00PM
and Sunday, February 10th
10:00AM to 3:00PM
at the corner of Broadway and Cesar Chavez in Chinatown

The Chinatown Firecracker Race is a 10K run that incorporates the lighting of 100,000 firecrackers, ferocious lion dances, and drummers along the race route in order to scare off any fun-hating evil spirits. If you have not done so already, on-site race registration will take place on Saturday at Chinatown Central Plaza on N. Broadway.

Chinatown Firecracker 10K Race
Sunday, February 10th
Firecracker Race festivities and opening ceremony start at 7:30AM
The race and festivities begin at W. College and Broadway.

Chinatown Firecracker Race Registration
Saturday, February 9th
10:00 AM to 3:00PM
Chinatown Central Plaza at 930 N. Broadway (at the corner of College and Broadway)

You can also welcome the Rat and Mouse Year with dance, booze, live outdoor music, turntablists, and poetry at the 6th Annual Double Standard. The first 500 people to arrive at the party will receive a special red envelope. Party proceeds are being donated to the Asian Pacific Community Fund.

The Double Standard
Saturday, February 9th
9:00PM to 2:00AM
at Central Chinatown Plaza
930 N. Broadway (near College)
Admission is $15 before 11:00 PM, $20 after 11:00PM.
This is a 21+ event.
View the detailed music line-up at thedoublestandardlive.com.

Other Helpful Links

Congestion warning: some streets will be closed for the parade route and the parade organizers expect over 100,000 attendees, so you may want to seriously consider taking public transit -- the Metro Gold Line stops in Chinatown just a few blocks away from the festivities. Schedules and maps can found at Metro.net.

Chinatownla.com has complete listing information, maps, and directions to the Lunar New Year events.

For a guide to Chinatown itself, check out the LAist Chinatown Neighborhood Project.

Photo by numberstumper via Flickr