Chinatown’s Golden Anniversary
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Ten thousand firecrackers and a giant birthday cake served in Chinatown’s central plaza kicked off celebrations of the neighborhood’s 50th anniversary Thursday.
The colorful, pagoda-roofed shops in Chinatown’s main square formally opened on June 25, 1938, after the original Los Angeles Chinatown was torn down to make way for Union Station.
The festivities will continue throughout the weekend.
The Daily Events:
About 5,000 firecrackers will be set off in the plaza between Broadway and Hill Street, north of College Street, at 2 and 7 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday. Lion dancers, martial arts experts, folk dancers and musical groups will perform during the afternoons and evenings.
A carnival will be held on the Castelar School playground at 840 Yale St. from 4 p.m. to midnight today; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Half-hour walking tours will be given by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California from 5 to 7 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tours will meet at a table set up in the central plaza.
Once the weekend ends, according to Bill Hong, head of the Chinatown Merchants Assn., Chinatown “will keep on celebrating for 50 days,” with 5,000 firecrackers set off twice daily, at 2 and 7 p.m.
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