Merced festival celebrates Lao New Year
The Lao New Year Celebration is returning to downtown Merced this spring.
The festival is in its 7th year and continues to spotlight Lao culture. The modern Lao people include over 60 ethnicities after the Lan Xang Kingdom reigned more than 1,500 years ago to lay the groundwork for today’s country borders.
Though the individual cultural groups within the Lao people have their own unique New Years celebrations at different times of year, Merced celebrates Lao New Year with a parade, the giving of alms by offering food to monks, water festivities and other traditions.
Live music will fill a dance floor to close out the festivities, which also include plenty of local vendors and food booths, outdoor activities and a traditional “Baci” ceremony.
The parking lot of the Bangkok Restaurant will host the cultural performances. In addition, artisan businesses and food options will pepper the streets of downtown throughout the day.
The parade will begin from I Street, follow down to Main Street, continue on K Street and finally return to its starting point on I Street.
The festival is organized by the Vatthanatham Lao Foundation and is in part to help revitalize downtown.
Cultural festivals like these may choose to use business card printing for vendors to make connections with customers.
The Downtown Merced Lao New Year Celebration is happening on May 17 at 8 a.m. beginning at 235 W Main St.
The festival is in its 7th year and continues to spotlight Lao culture. The modern Lao people include over 60 ethnicities after the Lan Xang Kingdom reigned more than 1,500 years ago to lay the groundwork for today’s country borders.
Though the individual cultural groups within the Lao people have their own unique New Years celebrations at different times of year, Merced celebrates Lao New Year with a parade, the giving of alms by offering food to monks, water festivities and other traditions.
Live music will fill a dance floor to close out the festivities, which also include plenty of local vendors and food booths, outdoor activities and a traditional “Baci” ceremony.
The parking lot of the Bangkok Restaurant will host the cultural performances. In addition, artisan businesses and food options will pepper the streets of downtown throughout the day.
The parade will begin from I Street, follow down to Main Street, continue on K Street and finally return to its starting point on I Street.
The festival is organized by the Vatthanatham Lao Foundation and is in part to help revitalize downtown.
Cultural festivals like these may choose to use business card printing for vendors to make connections with customers.
The Downtown Merced Lao New Year Celebration is happening on May 17 at 8 a.m. beginning at 235 W Main St.