Thousands of Lunar New Year celebrants lined the sidewalks of Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, to cheer on playful dragons, resplendent dancers, martial arts performers, floral floats and marching bands for a festive Tet parade.
Westminster’s Little Saigon has the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam, accounting for more than 40% of the city’s population.
Fireworks explode after being ignited by local politicians to kick off the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Living History of The Army of the Republic of Vietnam carry a Vietnamese flag down Bolsa Ave. during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Tessa Harelson, 3, keeps a wary eye on a passing lion dancer as she walks down Bolsa Ave. with her dad Casey, an assistant principal at Westminster High School, during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. “She’s nervous but she’s doing better than last year,” said Harelson with a laugh, about his daughter who was participating in her fourth Tet parade. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Women reach out to touch a passing lion as members of the Qing Wei dance troupe perform before the start of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes takes a selfie with a group of fans during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tsuy Truong walks with members of Viet Rainbow of Orange County during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Alejandra Salgado, 17, performs with the Westminster High School Color Guard during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A young girl dressed as Ong Dia joins members of the Qing Wei dance troupe as they perform before the start of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
My Nguyen, left, and Saraky Sam, kiss in front of the Asian Garden Mall as they walk with members of Viet Rainbow of Orange County during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer hands out treats as he walks in the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Qing Wei dance troupe perform before the start of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Victoria Vo, 2, of Garden Grove, lounges in a stroller as she watches the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Twix gets a little help with his costume from Adam Pace, of San Bernardino, as they prepare to walk with members of Viet Rainbow of Orange County during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers performs during the opening ceremonies of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, waves to the crowd as he rides in the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Residents line the stairwell of a building as they watch the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Qing Wei dance troupe perform before the start of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Local politicians, including Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, at right, light fireworks to kick off the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nicolas Pace, 6-months, of San Bernardino, is pulled in a wagon by his dad Adam as they walk with members of Viet Rainbow of Orange County during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crowned beauties wave from the back of a car as they ride in the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade down Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Qing Wei dance troupe perform as fireworks explode after being ignited by local politicians to kick off the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Singers sing along with the National Anthem during opening ceremonies of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of Viet Rainbow of Orange County walk down Bolsa AVe. during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer carries a Vietnamese flag as he walks down Bolsa Ave. during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Congressman Alan Lowenthal works the crowd as he walks down Bolsa Ave. during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher and activities director Robert Nguyen, waits with his students from Garden Grove High School as they wait their turn during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phuong Pham, with the Viet Youth Foundation, performs during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Attendees listen to the National Anthem during opening ceremonies of the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students from McGarvin Intermediate School march in the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Disney Ambassador Justin Rapp and Mickey Mouse wave to attendees during the Little Saigon Westminster Tet Parade on Bolsa Ave. in Westminster on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Not just for locals, the annual crowd-pleaser is broadcast throughout Vietnam and beyond.
The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a calendar year based on the cycles of the moon. In the custom of naming the celebration after an animal, 2020 is the Year of the Rat.
This is the first year neighboring Garden Grove will host its own parade, slated for Sunday, Jan. 26. Westminster ran into some competition after the city council dropped its longtime organizer Phat Bui – a Garden Grove councilman who then launched a parade in his own city.
However, with the events scheduled for separate days, people have a chance to attend both.
“The community is large and diverse enough to have multiple celebrations serving our residents, including friends and family members from other ethnic groups,” said Westminster Mayor Tri Ta.
Garden Grove’s Tet parade will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday on Westminster Boulevard between Brookhurst and Euclid streets. For more information, go to tetparade.org.
