Lighting Of 100,000 Firecrackers and Lion Dancers Kick Off L.A. Chinatown FIRECRACKER RUN

More than 8,000 athletes from around the world will take over the streets of downtown Los Angeles during the 40th annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run/Walk and Bike Ride, with proceeds benefitting the surrounding L.A. and Chinatown community. The event will begin with a stunning and celebratory lighting of 100,000 sparkling red firecrackers.

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 that winds through Los Angeles' most historic neighborhood.

The 40th anniversary will introduce a new element with its PAW'er Dog Walk on Saturday, February 24 in honor of the "Year of the Dog," where participants can take on the course with their furry friend and learn more about pet adoption, wellness and nutrition at the Firecracker Festival.

The family-favorite Firecracker Festival will also return with new and exciting performances by The Immortals Lion dance troupe, East Wind Lion Dance group, all-female acappella group UCLA's Random Voices, Millennium Dance Complex Company and Crew 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.

The annual Lunar New Year event includes a free weekend festival of cultural acts, open to the public, beginning on Saturday, February 24 from 10am-4pm and continues on Sunday, February 25 from 8:15am-12pm.

Since its inception in 1979, LACFRC, 501(c)(3), has contributed over half a million dollars to a variety of elementary schools and non-profit organizations, including Need2Read, Alpine Recreation, Chinatown Senior Citizens Service Center, Chinatown Service Center, etc.

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