Lunar New Year parades and gatherings took place in Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and other cities. Culture OC photographer Paul Rodriguez documents the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
OC Autism Foundation’s dragon moves along Bolsa Avenue during the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Culture OC
Thousands gathered Saturday morning along Bolsa Avenue in Westminster as the city hosted the annual Tet Parade in Little Saigon. While the grandiose, colorful parade – featuring floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, color guards, veterans, youth organizations and local politicians – has been centered in Little Saigon for the past two decades, it’s only been an official city of Westminster presentation for the past couple of years.
Orange County is the home of the largest population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam, and thousands showed up dressed in their elegant ao dai, waving to onlookers or participants and celebrating the Lunar New Year, which was officially Jan. 29, but in many Asian cultures continues through Feb. 8. This new year is the year of the snake – which carries both positive and negative connotations in Asian cultures.
This year is particularly symbolic, as it is the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. During that tumultuous April 1975 period, tens of thousands of Vietnamese fled their home country and emigrated across the world, many winding up in Southern California and Orange County – which they still call home today.
Among the special events during the Westminster parade was a 25th anniversary reaffirmation of vows between Tam and Christie Nguyen, administered by Hugh Nguyen, the Orange County clerk recorder. Speeches were delivered and fireworks punctuated the end of the gathering.
The parade was broadcast around the world via public access television.
Elsewhere in Orange County, tens of thousands of residents – and folks from neighboring counties – celebrated Lunar New Year over the weekend. The Union of Vietnamese Student Associations held its 41st annual UVSA Tet Festival, relocating to Garden Grove Park after 10 years at the OC Fair & Event Center. The three-day celebration included lion and dragon dancing, a Miss Vietnam of Southern California contest, pho eating contests, live music, dance competitions and plenty of vendors.
Santa Ana held its second annual Tet Festival at Centennial Park, with cultural performances, live entertainment and drumming. The Anaheim Ducks’ mascot Wild Wing made a special appearance there.
Pacific Symphony presented its annual Lunar New Year celebration at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. It was a festive evening of Eastern and Western music and dance, featuring pianist Joyce Yang, guzheng player Bei Bei Monter, erhu player Yang Liu, the Yaya Dance Academy, the American Feel Young Chorus, Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale.
All in all, it was a festive and auspicious launch to the Year of the (Wood) Snake, which symbolizes harvest, spirituality and good fortune, according to theSouth China Morning Post. – Richard Chang
PHOTO GALLERY
The following photos were taken at the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. All photos by Paul Rodriguez, Culture OC
The Vietnamese Culture Takes Center Stage
Magnolia High School dragon dancers perform during the parade.
Dragon dancers perform for the crowd.
A member of the Thien An Performing Arts group performs at the parade.
A member of the Thien An Performing Arts group entertains the crowd at the parade.
Members of the Thien An Performing Arts group finish their performance at the parade.
Performers with the Anaheim Union High School District take part in the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
A dragon with Garden Grove High School entertains the crowd along the parade route.
Viet Rainbow of Orange County’s dragon is carried along the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade route.
Every Parade Needs a Marching Band
The Westminster High School band marches in the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
A Westminster High School saxophone player performs with the marching band.
A member of the Los Amigos High School marching band auxiliary perform during the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
Honoring Veterans is A Key Part of the Parade
The City of Westminster Police Color Guard march carrying the colors for the playing of the National Anthem before the start of the 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster.
The flag of the Republic of Vietnam is carried along the route to begin the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
Graduates of the Vietnamese National Military Academy prior to 1975 march in the parade.
Veterans of the war in Vietnam salute as they take part in the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
Veterans of the Vietnam War take part in the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
The GreatER community Participates in the Parade
Orange County Clerk Recorder Hugh Nguyen, second from right, performs a reaffirmation of marriage vows for Christie Nguyen and Tam Nguyen during the 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster.
Hi Teen USA princesses ride a float down Bolsa Avenue during the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
A member of the Viet Rainbow Orange County acknowledges the crowd.
Ladies perform with the OC Autism foundation during the parade.
Representatives of the Richard Nixon Library and Foundation take part in the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
Students, teachers and administrators of the Westminster School District march in the parade.
A parade participant shows his colors and American Pride during the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
A Tet Parade participant waits to begin her march along the parade route.
SPECTATORS
A spectator takes photos as the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade marches by.
A young girl watches the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade through the barrier along the parade route.
Constituents greet their mayor Charlie Nguyen as he marches in the 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster.
Spectators watch the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade along Bolsa Avenue in Westminster.
The COUNTy'S Politicians Join the Festivities
Members of the Westminster City Council along with the city manager and the assistant city manager pose for a photo before the start of the 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster.
Westminster Mayor Charlie Nguyen, right, waves to the crowd as he takes part in the 2025 Tet Parade in Westminster.
Westminster City Council member Amy Phan West, center, waves to the crowd as she rides along the 2025 Tet Parade route.
City of Westminster Vice Mayor Carlos Manzo waves to the crowd during the city’s 2025 Tet Parade.
Congressman Derek Tran acknowledges the crowd as he walks in the City of Westminster 2025 Tet Parade.
Congressman Lou Correa greets the crowd lining Bolsa Avenue.
The Westminster City Council rides a float down Bolsa Avenue for the parade.
CULTURE CLUB PRESENTS:
"An Evening with BalletX and Live Music"
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