This weekend marks the 30th annual Lotus Festival at Echo Park Lake, just a couple miles northwest from Downtown Los Angeles. The yearly festival focuses on a different Asian culture each year. This year’s festival highlights the culture, food, art, and dance of traditional and contemporary Asian Pacific Islanders; last year the Filipino community was the star.

2006 Lotus Festival via lotusfestival.org. Click image for larger view.

The three-day event kicks off tonight at 5:00 PM with the Twilight Jazz Series performed by the Cal State LA Jazz Orchestra, Harvard-Westlake Jazz Ensemble, and Cross Hart Jazz Experience. Events are focused on the north and east sides of the lake, with a fireworks show to follow at 9:00 PM.

Festivities continue on Saturday from noon to 9:00 PM with the Dragon Boat races and another fireworks show planned at 9:00. Sunday is the final day of the festival, and events end at 8:00 PM. Admission is free.

Prepare to be slightly disappointed in the number of lotus blooms; cold spring weather and lack of rain are blamed for the lack of flowering plants this year.

Parking is a serious mess over here. If possible, take Metro.

-Official photos from the 2006 Lotus Festival
-Franklin Avenue on the lack of lotuses (loti?)