Cambodia Town Parade & Festival
The 17th annual Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival takes place Sunday, April 6, with a new parade route and festival location but the same purpose of celebrating together one of Long Beach’s most vital communities with fun, food and tradition.
Always one of the city's most highly anticipated happenings, this year’s Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival’s theme is “We are Stronger When We Celebrate Together,” a reminder that Long Beach is better when its many diverse parts unite, and celebrate, collectively.
The parade kicks off at 9 AM with a traditional blessing on Anaheim Street, in front of MacArthur Park (1321 E Anaheim Street). After the blessing, the parade will travel along Anaheim Street and Alamitos Avenue, ending with the grand Culture Festival at Long Beach City College, Pacific Coast Campus (1305 E Pacific Coast Hwy).
From 1 to 6 PM, the festival will take center stage with an exciting lineup of performers representing not just Khmer culture, but also Filipino, Pacific Islander, as well as other global traditions. The festival will also feature local Khmer artisans showcasing their crafts, as well as many games and attractions for kids. And, yes, there will be lots of delicious things to eat served from food booths, though attendees are also encouraged to explore the many nearby restaurants to enjoy authentic Cambodian cuisine.
“We have all kinds of Cambodian food. We welcome people to walk around and try it all,” Cambodia Town board member Richer San said. “Along with peace, this event also allows us to promote our community, welcoming people into it. We love seeing people going into our restaurants and shops along the Anaheim corridor.”
Cambodia Town promotes Khmer culture, customs, and traditions in order to create a thriving and peaceful community. The parade and festival it created hold the distinction of being the first of its kind held outside of Cambodia itself–Long Beach has the largest population of Cambodians outside of Asia. Though the parade was originally created to serve as a unifying force for the Cambodian community, its mission has grown to bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity and cultural heritage.
