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Coming this weekend to Echo Park Lake is the 31st Lotus Festival, the largest annual event sponsored by the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks.

Festivities will kick off Friday, July 11 with a night of jazz and fireworks, followed by two full days of entertainment, foods, arts and crafts on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival celebrates the diverse people and cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands, bringing in exotic cuisine/beverages, artifacts, dignitaries in traditional clothing and artisans to demonstrate ethnic handiwork such as paper-cutting and calligraphy.

The legendary Taiko Drummers will be present for performances, and prominent Asian and Pacific Islander personalities from the media and acting professions will act as hosts throughout the weekend.

An art show exhibit featuring works with the “Lotus Flower” theme, a health fair promoting holistic fitness, and the highly-competitive dragon boat races are sure to be popular attractions as well.

As many as 150,000 attendees are expected. If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to get away from Downtown.

Mystery of the Missing Lotus Flowers

Even though the festival dates have been selected to coincide with the blooming of Echo Park’s famous lotus beds, this year may be the first attendees will not be able to enjoy the beauty of the pink- and cream-colored flowers, which for decades have caught the interest of artists and photographers.

Since the summer of 2005, each season has seen a progressive die-off of the plants, and a discouraging report by the Los Angeles Times on June 29 reads almost like an obituary to these mini reminders of the area’s Asian heritage.

According to the article, water pollution, pests and disease are possible suspects of the deterioration. Hope may still exist as the city prepares for a $60 million replenishment of the Echo Park Lake, where plans are to drain the water and retain the remaining lotus tubers for future cultivation.

“Because the blooms aren’t there doesn’t mean the festival is a flop,” said Kevin Regan, an assistant general manager for the parks department in the Times piece.

New tubers could be planted to keep the tradition, and the symbol of the community alive.

Lotus Festival 2008
Echo Park Lake
Friday, July 11 — 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday, July 12 — 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Sunday, July 13 — 12:00pm to 8:30pm
laparks.org/grifmet/lotus.htm / lotusfestival.org

Metro dependent Downtowners should catch the #4 local bus on Hill Street, which goes through the neighborhood via Cesar Chavez/Sunset.

Echo Park Lake is located on Park Avenue between Glendale Avenue and Echo Park Boulevard, just north of the 101 and 110 freeway junction, near Dodger Stadium.

-Where have Echo Park’s lotuses gone? (LA Times)
-escape from downtown: echo park