Morning rain dampens the turnout — but not the joy — for Tet Parade in Westminster’s Little Saigon
By Orange County on February 10, 2019
Rain put a damper on the expected crowd, and festivities got underway almost two hours late.
But as a good omen for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, the sun broke though mid-morning Saturday, Feb. 9, bequeathing plenty of time for the 20th annual Tet Parade in Little Saigon.
Midori Nguyen, 3, entertains the crowd during a lull in action at the Westminster Tet Parade on Saturday, February 9, 2019. Heavy early morning rain postponed the event by almost two hours. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chris Williams with the California Highway Patrol jumps out of his car to mingle with the crowd during the Little Saigon Tet Parade on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Puddles from a morning downpour reflect parade-goers at the Little Saigon Tet Parade on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lion dancers perform during the opening ceremonies of the 20th annual Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Asian World Media float adds laughter to the 20th annual Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Spectators to the Tet Parade in Little Saigon take their seats near a two-hour parking spot, almost exactly how long the event was delayed due to the rain on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ethan Luu goes airborne while performing stunts with the Vietnam Martial Arts Center during the Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Harley-Davidson riders roll through the Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The South Vietnam flag shines bright as it is carried during the Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Spectator Minh Dau gets caught up in the excitement of the Tet Parade as he interacts with marchers on
Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An Ho rides Yogi, a Bureau of Land Management Mustang, during the Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Flag-carrying girls take part in the Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Storm clouds don’t dampen the mood of the 20th annual Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 20th annual Tet Parade rolls through Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Grand Marshall of the 20th annual Tet Parade, Michael Dao, MD, waves to the crowd in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A horse-drawn carriage is part of the Tet Parade in Little Saigon on Saturday, February 9, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thousand of celebrants – many of them showing up after the rain took leave – lined Bolsa Avenue in Westminster to cheer on fantastical creatures, martial arts performers, mariachi bands and dancers garbed in colorful Vietnamese costumes.
Organizers initially estimated that some 30,000 folks would watch from the sidewalks, As it turned out, only about 10,000 materialized.
“We lost about 70 percent of the crowd due to rain,” said parade committee spokesman Alan Ford, who came to the United States as a child after the Fall of Saigon in 1975. “But the event went well and was very fun.”
As always, the parade started with a bang as huge fire-breathing dragons greeted admirers. Actually, the smoke came from firecrackers and the mythological beasts were powered by people who doubled up inside elaborate costumes.
This is the Year of the Pig, so pig-theme characters and decorations abounded.
The parade coincided with the three-day Tet Festival, which runs through Sunday, Feb. 10, at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.
Sponsors and donors funded the $150,000 parade, of which about $65,000 went to the city for supplying police officers and other public safety personnel.
Vietnamese-Americans make up 40 percent of Westminster’s population. The Tet Parade, Mayor Tri Ta said, “is a way for the first generation to pass traditions to future generations.”
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