A young visitor attaches a message of hope onto a wishing tree at Monterey Park’s Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday. Thousands attended the annual weekend event, with the memory of last year’s mass shooting still fresh in the minds of many.

By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS, Rafu Staff Writer

MONTEREY PARK — Thousands gathered on Garvey Avenue on Saturday and Sunday as Monterey Park held its 16th annual Lunar New Year Festival.

The Year of the Dragon was welcomed with showcases and music, art displays, souvenir and community service vendors, carnival rides and plenty of traditional and contemporary food creations.

The celebration comes just over a year after the devastating mass shooting – just hours after the 2023 festival – in which 11 people were slain at the Star Dance Club Ballroom, steps away from the event.

The wishes were accompanied by cartoon dragons.

On Jan. 21, the anniversary of the massacre, the City of Monterey Park held a vigil to mark the occasion.

“We stand here in solidarity together and offer unwavering support to the emotions that still linger since that shooting,” said Brandon Tsay at the vigil. Tsay has been hailed as a hero after he disarmed the gunman at a separate dance studio his family owns in nearby Alhambra.

Many arts and crafts at the festival had a dragon theme.

The killer, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, shot himself the following day after being surrounded by police in Torrance.

“We can honor those that we have lost not just by dancing, but also by sharing their stories and memorializing them,” Monterey Park Mayor Jose Sanchez said. “But let’s also honor them by ensuring that no other community has to endure what we’ve endured. Let’s commit to this valuable work. Let us strive to do this work. And let’s pray together.”

The celebration, which was cut short last year, was in full swing this year.

Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo

This publication was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.