The Lunar New Year Fire Horse is spreading its power of luck and joy to Nevada County on Sunday, March 1! This 12th annual Nevada City Chinese Lunar New Year Parade and Festival welcome the community to this festive cultural tradition from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Historically, Chinese New Year traditions were brought over by Chinese immigrants to the U.S. over a hundred years ago. The Chinese, for the longest time, was the predominant Asian ethnic group in the U.S.; hence, the celebration had been widely referred to as “Chinese New Year.” However, around the 1970s, many other Asian groups have since become well represented in the U.S.; hence, “Lunar New Year,” has become popular in addressing the breadth of Asian New Year celebrations in the U.S. and recognizing their unique roots in various parts of Asia. Using both is correct!
Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS), along with the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, is proud to honor the legacy of these early Chinese Gold Rush pioneers and railroad workers of the Sierra Nevada with the Lunar New Year celebration. Nevada County was once home to thousands of hard-working immigrants, and this event honors their historic achievements. Commercial Street, where the parade begins, was the site of the old Chinese Quarter during the Gold Rush. The parade goes right pass the Chinese Monument at the entrance of the Commercial Street parking lot, which was erected in 2005 by local businesses and organizations, including CATS.
The community parade begins at 12:00 noon, starting from the Robinson Plaza on Commercial and Union streets (by the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce and the large Pelton Wheel), going up Commercial Street, making a left turn down Broad Street, making a right turn down Bridge Street (Bonanza Market), and then onto Spring Street where the celestial Lion dancing by Eastern Ways Martial Arts of Sacramento will take place immediately following the parade. Revelers may follow the Lions and Dragon from Commercial Street to Spring Street. After their outdoor performance, more entertainment and exhibits will take place inside the Miners Foundry, for an afternoon of fun for the whole family! Free admission. Follow the beat of the Iwa Daiko drummers!
CATS is pleased to honor Grand Marshals Pascale Fusshoeller and Susan Levitz, founders of YubaNet.com, who have been staunch supporters of CATS. Yubanet is a source of dependable, up-to-date news, which many in the community rely on.
While you’re waiting for the parade to begin, please check out the Firehouse Museum on adjacent Main Street, where many Chinese and Nisenan tribe artifacts are on display.
This year’s mascot will be represented in the parade by horses and riders of the Nevada County Sheriff’s HEART (Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team), where the horses are owned by Los Caballeros de Auburn, under the direction of Jose Mendoza. Other units include the audience favorite — Chinese ceremonial Lion Dancers and a 72’ Chinese Dragon from Eastern Ways Martial Arts of Sacramento; students from Bell Hill Academy; “Mulan,” (aka Lily Emmolo); members of Grass Valley Aikikai, local theatre groups; Grass Valley Hula, our spiritual friends from Falun Dafa; and Iwa Daiko drummers from Sacramento, among others. Food vendors are Kaliko’s Hawaiian Kitchen food truck and Gold Rush Cookies, with Sierra Savories Spices to “spice up” your life! The Foundry Bar will be open to serve up drinks. In the Stone Hall, there will be Asian-themed arts and crafts and gifts for sale; a kid’s table; Chinese-style mahjong – come play — experienced or novice; a new children’s Chinese New Year book launch and sale by Allison Chan; horoscope face painting by Lincoln Easely; crocheted “horses” and other “animals” by Jackie Mcdaniel; tea ceremony demonstrations by Lily Emmolo; Lisa Redfern and Rose Murphy to promote their self-guided historic walking tours of the Grass Valley and Nevada City Chinatowns; and books by Sierra College Press. The State Parks will be represented with a progress report on the Oyung House at Empire Mine (what’s happening there? – come find out!), as well as the Nevada County Historical Society, the Nevada County Landmarks Commission, the Nevada County Arts Council on Culture Forward!, plus many more!
For entertainment at the Foundry, we have the very popular Grass Valley Hula – Ka Hale Hula O Pilialohaokalani O Hilo; Grass Valley Aikikai, demonstrating Aikido — referencing CATS’ upcoming production of Rashomon; and Lisa Redfern’s and Rose Murphy’s full-length inspiring documentary, “Chinese Family Stories – From Exclusion to Pillars of the Community,” originally shown at the Nevada County Historical Society at one of their Speaker Nights. We thank the Miners Foundry, the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Nevada City, the Nevada City Arts Council, YubaNet, and Sonic Technology for their collaboration and support. CATS is seeking sponsors and lots of volunteers for this Lunar New Year celebration! Contact Jeannie Wood at info@catsweb.org.