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For years, the city of Cupertino and local ethnic groups have striven to promote understanding between residents by hosting cultural events, but the end result has often been that these ethnic events attract only people from the culture the event represents.
But the Lunar New Year Unity Parade changed that last year, and this year, organizers have recruited even more people from different ethnic groups to join the event.
"The mission of the Lunar New Year Unity Parade is to bring the community's broad spectrum of cultures together while celebrating the Lunar New Year," says co-chairman Richard Lowenthal.
The parade's committee itself reflects the city's diversity. It is made up of people of Iranian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, African American and cultural American. Committee members include representatives from school districts, the Chamber of Commerce, the Cupertino Rotary Club and the YMCA.
On Feb. 28 at 10:30 a.m., lion dancers, local high school marching bands and performers of different ethnicities will march along Stelling Road from Jollyman Park to Memorial Park, and U.S. Rep. Mike Honda will serve as the grand marshal.
At Memorial Park, where the parade ends, an international fair will offer up differing ethnic foods, crafts and displays between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. A firecracker display will pop off at 12:45 p.m., and the fair will feature a variety of cultural performances that begin at 12:50 p.m.
"It is nice to showcase different cultures and learn about each other," says the parade's fundraising committee member, Angira Dey. She moved to Cupertino from India five years ago. "This is something everybody can be part of."
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