Los Angeles Lotus Festival

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The Lotus Festival, a cherished Los Angeles tradition since 1972, began as a collaborative effort between the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Council of Oriental Organizations (COO). This vibrant cultural celebration, held annually in July at Echo Park Lake - home to the nation's largest lotus bed - has grown from its humble beginnings to attract over 125,000 visitors. The festival celebrates the blooming of the sacred lotus flower, symbolizing rebirth, purity, and life, while honoring the diverse Asian Pacific Islander communities of Southern California. Throughout its history, the festival has evolved, overcoming challenges like budget cuts in the late 1970s and undergoing a renaissance in 1990 as "The Festival of the People and Culture of the Pacific Rim." Today, the event showcases the rich cultural heritage of various Asian Pacific communities, including Japan, Philippines, China, Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, Bangladesh, and Hmong. Managed by the Los Angeles Lotus Festival Inc. in partnership with the City's Department of Recreation and Parks, the festival features dragon boat races, live music, dance performances, cultural exhibitions, and the popular Asian Youth Scholarship Program, creating a dynamic two-day celebration that brings together people from all ethnic backgrounds to experience and appreciate the diverse cultures of Asia Pacific Islands.

Growing Our Festival

The Lotus Festival's organizational structure took a significant step forward in 1991 with the establishment of the City of LA Recreation and Parks Lotus Advisory Board. Composed of representatives from various Asian Pacific communities, this board was created to promote and ensure the authenticity of cultural presentations at the festival while providing vital support and collaboration with the Asian Pacific Islander community and the Department of Recreation and Parks of the City of Los Angeles. Mr. Gerry Wong of the US Census Bureau office in Los Angeles served as Chairman from 1991 to 1993, followed by The Hon. Bob Gin of the Alhambra School Board, who chaired the Advisory Board from 1994 to 1995 and was instrumental in introducing the Dragon Boat Race to the festival. This development marked an important milestone in the festival's evolution, fostering enhanced community involvement and more diverse cultural programming.

Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles Lotus Festival Inc. has since helped grow the event to attract over 125,000 attendees annually. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in expanding the festival's reach to include numerous Asian Pacific Islander communities, including Japan, Philippines, China, Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, Bangladesh, and Hmong. Today, the festival stands as a vibrant celebration of Southern California's rich cultural diversity and a testament to the power of community collaboration.

City of Los Angeles Rec & Parks Lotus Advisory Board

President - Leo Pandac PhD

Vice President - Steven Lee

Vice President - Mohammed Ahsan

Secretary – Henry Cao

Past Secretary – Hazel Young

Members

Bob Gin

Adrienne Cedro-Hament

Andres Ramacho Jr

Long Nguyen

Mai Diep

Sunil Agarwal

William Lee

Celine Lee