LOS ANGELES — Thousands of visitors gathered at Echo Park last weekend for the 45th Annual Lotus Festival, one of Los Angeles' signature summer cultural celebrations. This year's festival featured live entertainment, cultural exhibits, international food vendors, children's activities, community booths, and a new 5K Run/Walk.
The Chinese American Museum (CAM) was among the participating organizations, offering a "Year of the Horse" craft activity that attracted hundreds of children and parents throughout the two-day event.
Participants decorated horse-shaped cardstock with colorful designs before cutting, assembling, and adding a mane and tail to create their own keepsake horse. Many children proudly posed for photos with their finished creations and played with their handmade horses around the festival grounds.
The activity was led by Community Engagement Specialist Naomi Steinmeier, Marketing and Events Specialist Zhuohang Li, and a team of museum volunteers.
CAM Executive Director Michael Chang said the museum has participated in the Lotus Festival for more than 20 years, describing it as one of the museum's most valuable community outreach events and an opportunity to introduce Chinese American culture to a broader audience.
Chang noted that the museum offers a different hands-on craft each year. Following the popularity of last year's lantern-making activity, this year's Year of the Horse craft received an enthusiastic response from families and children.
One festival attendee said she brings her children to the Lotus Festival every year and remembered making a lantern at the museum's booth last year. Although she was unfamiliar with her own Chinese zodiac sign, she knew this year celebrates the Year of the Horse and said the craft was both fun and educational. She added that her family plans to return again next year.