The 33rd Lotus Festival returns to Echo Park Lake next weekend
2006 Festival Photo via LA Taco
This is a re-published article I wrote for the latest EPIAn Ways, which you can view by clicking here.
The Echo Park Lotus Festival is an annual tradition that celebrates, for two days, the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles and the greater area. This is the 33rd Lotus Festival we’ve had – but we didn’t think it would return this year.
The Echo Park Lake rehabilitation project was initially planned to begin in Spring 2011, with construction fencing going up around April. However, the city pushed back the start date to later this summer, and so it was announced the Lotus Festival would indeed return.
Highlights of the festival include music, dance and food – all of which celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture and traditions. This year’s focus is on the culture of Thailand. There will be a Health Fair, community groups offering information, and boutiques for shopping. One thing that won’t be part of this annual tradition will be the dragon boat races – which have been absent since 2008 (the Lotus Festival was canceled in 2009, and there were no boat races in 2010).
The Lotus Festival website provides a reason for the cancelation: “…due to lack of participation and funds we are unable to host the Dragon Boat Race and will be cancelled. The Lotus Festival will still take place and we encourage you to still come and participate in the festivities.”
Opening ceremonies start on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm. Festivities will go on until 9:00 pm (no word yet on whether or not there will be fireworks that night).
The Lotus Festival continues on Sunday, July 10, 2011 from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm.
Please visit www.lotusfestival.org for more details.
Two years? What a joke. Since when does any city project finish on time? 2014 at the earliest, if we’re lucky?
You should also do this kind of project in progression. Piece by piece, which will have a lesser impact on the community and wildlife. Who’s doing the planning over there?
And I’ve read the proposal… two years? Seriously? This is Los Angeles. Twelve solid months of weather ready work. This isn’t the east coast where you have to shut the job down for half the year due to weather.
And another thing. Why are they doing this now? In the worst of economic times. What happens if the economy tanks again half way into the project? Does that mean everything goes dry and we don’t get to see the lake until 2015?
Go visit the lake now while you can. Those who have kids going off to college after this summer will graduate before it opens again.
Thank you hbhb for your post. I completely agree. In addition I admit I am terrified that they will kill all the turtles and not make any provisions for the birds and others who love the lake. Saving one goose is not enough. This project seems poorly timed and unplanned. I attended their tour and they had no plans for the wildlife.
Joan, the wildlife issues gets me fuming. I was at the lake yesterday and saw a couple of baby geese waddling around. They have no idea what’s about to hit them and most likely wont survive the ordeal.
I understand the idea of draining the lake and putting in this new filter system, I get that. But do we really need to redesign the entire lake’s structure? Is it so hideous now to look at? Who’s pocketing money for that waste?
Fix the boat house and put in the filter system. Start the job in the off-season around Oct/Nov 2011 and it will be finished and ready for everyone, wildlife and people alike, to enjoy come Spring 2012. I’m no rocket scientist, I just have common sense.
A few important hings to keep in mind about the filtration and the overhaul of the lake:
– The purpose of the Prop O money is to clean up the lake because it’s incredibly contaminated. You have to agree that we shouldn’t continue to expose the wildlife of the lake to these toxins, even it it means temporary displacement. Thankfully there are other lakes nearby.
– The Prop O money has nothing to do with the city budget and is money dedicated by the Clean Water Bond.
– Water that runs into the lake come from the Glendale Blvd side and the Echo Park Avenue side – trash, debris, and chemicals collect in this runoff and into the lake.
– The two ways to filter contaminants out of the lake are: 1) a physical machine-type of filtration system and 2) a landscape of plant material that will naturally filter toxins.
– The problems with these two filtration options: The first option has been completely taken off the table. The Bureau claims it will take up an enormous amount of underground territory (I think a half an acre although I’m not sure exactly, but it’s big) and will not only add time to the project but will interfere with a huge chunk of the existing landscape (which they are trying to maintain as much as possible). I would prefer they went this direction despite their objections in order make sure the water runoff clean, do it right the first time! But it’s probably not going to happen. The latter option, a natural filtration, will completely change the historic landscape of Echo Park Lake. The planned wetlands are too close to the shore, the fear is that humans and hungry predators will be able to access the wetlands and destroy bird eggs and habitat.
One other thing to consider about the timeline, if Garcetti runs for mayor he will have to stick to the timeline to help is campaign! A failed Echo Park Lake project will look REALLY bad for him, so I’m pretty sure he’ll make it top priority.
Make sure you come to the next community meeting and get educated, ask questions, and share your opinions! July 20, 2011 at St. Paul’s Cathedral located at 840 Echo Park Avenue starting a 6:00 pm.
Kelly, I would put a years worth of salary on the table that the project does not get done in time. Mark my word, later this year you will be driving and walking by the lake and see absolutely no work being done for days on end and it will drive you crazy. Don’t think for a second that there isn’t massive money being pocketed. By no means should this take two years. I’ve seen 50+ floor buildings go up and become operational in less than a year. If anything that’s my biggest gripe, the timeline. It’s ridiculous.
It’s going to be the same situation that happened with the Silverlake Reservoir. How many years did they work on that pipe? I had friends who lived in the area and would pass that construction zone all the time and four out of five times it was empty, not a soul in sight. The longer you drag out a project of this kind of scale the more money you make.
I just also wanted to make a point clear… I’m all for cleaning the lake and filtering it out. I just think it’s being done completely backwards. First things first, starting it in the middle of summer has to be the dumbest idea in the world. You have to at least agree with me on that.
I agree that the timeline is too long and starting work in the middle of summer is just stupid.
That said, I hope everyone comes out to the Lotus Festival this weekend and enjoys the lake and park. And check out Research Society, performing on Sunday at 4:45! These guys are the best local indie band you’ve never heard of.
I think the site is actually http://www.lotusfest.org
Can’t wait! 🙂
WAIT. nevermind, I typed too soon–the first link was totally right. (my bad)
This will be the first year in the history of the lotus festival where lotus will not be in the lake but will be available for sale and viewing by vendors located next to the lake. Various colors and pot sizes will be for sale by McDonald’s Aquatic Nursery and Southwest Aquatics. After all, whats’s a lotus festival without lotus?
You have got to see the silver lining in this cloud of events to come. I grew up in Echo Park and have fond memories of the Lotus Festival. Although I hear all the comPlaints of the duration in the project to update, clean, or restore I’m glad that Echo park is getting some much needed attention. I no longer live in the area but I still come visit often. I am also a mother now and although my youngest at one will not remember too much I can’t wait to bring her back when the lake will be done. Im sure it will be worth the wait.
Will there be a fireworks show in this year Lotus Festival?
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