Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker Commemorates Lunar New Year and the “Year of the Rooster” with its 39th Annual Run/Walk and Bike Ride

More than 8,000 athletes from around the world will take over the streets of downtown Los Angeles during the 39th annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run/Walk and Bike Ride, with proceeds benefitting the surrounding L.A. and Chinatown community. Expected to attract over 25,000 spectators, the two-day event will begin with a spectacular and festive lighting of 100,000 sparkling red firecrackers on Saturday and Sunday, February 11-12 at 7:30 a.m.

As the largest Lunar New Year charity run in the United States, participating runners, walkers and cyclists will compete in various challenging activities: a 5/10K Run/Walk, 20/30 Mile Bike Ride and a 1K Kiddie Run to take place along a scenic course winding through the city's most historic neighborhoods.

"Firecracker Night Fest," an all-new night festival set in the heart of Chinatown, will make its debut on Saturday, February 11 from 4-10pm. The inaugural event will feature a diverse fusion of food and beverage offerings, including The Grilled Cheese Truck, White Rabbit Truck, Seoul Sausage, Rice Balls of Fire, The Deli Doctor and beer garden, along with a stellar entertainment lineup showcasing up and coming YouTube artists: Jason Chu, Megan Lee, Leo Xia, Priska, Perry & Danielle, Andre Echave and more.

The annual Lunar New Year event also includes a free weekend daytime celebration, open to the public, beginningSaturday, February 11 from 10am - 4pm and continuing on Sunday, February 12 from 8am - 12 noon.

Festivities feature a beer garden for race participants sponsored by favored local L.A. craft brewing company, Angel City Brewery. The family-favorite Firecracker Festival also returns with exciting performances by The Immortals Lion dance troupe, Japanese Taiko drummers, and traditional Chinese, Polynesian and Latin American dancers. Face painters and balloon artists, carnival games, a puppet show and an interactive petting zoo with familiar and exotic animals will add to the family-friendly atmosphere on Sunday.

For more information and to register for the Firecracker 5/10K Run/Walk and Bike Ride, please visitwww.firecracker10k.org. Join the conversation and share Firecracker 5/10K Run/Walk memories using #FirecrackerLA and @Firecracker10K.

Since its inception, the L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run Committee, Inc. (LACFRC) has contributed over half a million dollars to local elementary schools and non-profit community organizations providing service and programs to benefit the community. Event proceeds and donations benefit the beneficiaries of our event activities: Need2Read, Run/Don't Walk and non-profit community organizations, including Alpine Recreation, Alpine Striders, Asian American Tutorial, Central City Action Committee, Chinese Historical Society of So. California, Chinatown Senior Citizens Service Center, Chinese Confucius School, Friends of the Chinatown Library, LA Chinatown Teen Post and Chinatown Service Center.

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