The City of Los Angeles will host a Lunar New Year Night Market at Koreatown Plaza on March 3.
Since February 3, the city has been organizing a series of Lunar New Year Night Markets in various Asian communities. The Koreatown event will be the largest and final celebration in this series.
During a press conference at the LA Korean American Community Center on February 26, James An, president of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, announced, “The City of Los Angeles will host the Lunar New Year Night Market at Koreatown Plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on March 3. This event in Koreatown will be the most significant as it concludes a series of night markets.”
The press conference also saw attendance from L.A. City Councilmember Heather Hutt (10th District) and L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs General Manager Daniel Tarica. Councilmember Hutt remarked, “It’s an opportunity to encapsulate the essence of Koreatown.” Tarica added, “The Night Market is a celebration of the Lunar New Year and a homage to our ancestors.”
Admission to the event is free and will feature an array of food and attractions. “The first 500 attendees will receive food at the Koreatown Plaza food court,” mentioned Jerry Won, president of Just Like Media. Additionally, over 20 Asian retailers will showcase a variety of products. Attendees can also enjoy diverse Asian cultural experiences, including traditional Chinese and Vietnamese costume displays, Nanta drumming by the Hwarang Youth Foundation, traditional Chinese lion dances, and A cappella performances.
Regarding concerns about the timing of the celebration, Tarica explained, “It’s a big city, and we’ve had many communities to coordinate with. The event spans a long duration, and working with numerous Asian communities meant we had limited scheduling options.”
Councilmember Hutt and LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi are expected to attend the night market.
For more information, visit LunarNightMarket.com or contact the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles at (323) 732-0700.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM, JUNHAN PARK [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
