Preparations are underway at Hoover High School as volunteers set up for the 5th Annual Lantern Festival. Responsible for assembling and hanging thousands of lanterns, erecting vendor booths and building the stage and Vietnamese Cultural Village, the volunteers have worked tirelessly for the last month to help the Little Saigon San Diego Foundation organize the 3-day event. Scheduled to open Friday, July 19 at 5 PM and last all weekend, this year’s festival will celebrate the formal designation of the new Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District.
About the Festival
The Lantern Festival is a one-of-a-kind event in San Diego that brings together neighbors, businesses, students and community groups for a safe, fun and cultural experience. It attracts 10,000 visitors a year and has generated almost half a million dollars for the area since its establishment four years ago. The festival will include 14 carnival rides, over 40 unique food and commercial vendors, entertainers, a talent competition and daily lion dances.
Opening Ceremony
The official resolution to designate Little Saigon will be presented to the Little Saigon San Diego Foundation at the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, July 20 at 5 PM. The ceremony will feature several notable guest speakers such as Mayor Bob Filner, Board President of the City Heights Community Development Corporation, Steve Russell, and Cuong Nguyen, the President of the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association. The Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District received official recognition from the San Diego City Council on June 4, 2013.