With the recent conclusion of the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon, athletes of all stripes can now turn their attention to another great local sporting event; namely the LA Chintatown Firecracker. Put on each year by the Los Angeles Firecracker Run Committee, a community-based non-profit organization, the LA Chinatown Firecracker is a fun way to help ring in the Lunar New Year through a communal celebration of athletics, arts and culture.
The event also raises funds to support a range of “…local elementary schools and non-profit community organizations providing services and programs to benefit the community,” such as Need2Read, Chinese Historical Society of So. California, Chinatown Senior Citizens Service Center, and Friends of the Chinatown Library.
The LA Chinatown Firecracker consists of three primary components:
- 5K and 10K run/walk
- 20 mile and 30+ mile bike ride
- A two-day festival
This year the run/walks and bike rides all have new courses, so those who have participated in the past can look forward to fresh challenges, unexpected twists and turns and perhaps an introduction to parts of the city that were previously unfamiliar. It’s that last element that I find particularly attractive about this sort of event, since I love any excuse to get out of my familiar surroundings and explore the city.
As for the family friendly festival, you’ll find traditional Chinese music ensembles, Korean performance troupes, Vietnamese folk dance, Japanese taiko drummers, lion dancers, in addition to Latin Jazz or funk and soul bands. And the best part – it’s free!
DETAILS
When: Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21, 2016
Bike Ride
Saturday, February 20, 2016
- 30 Mile Ride starts at 9 :00 A.M.
- 20 Mile Ride starts at 9:20 A.M.
*Start times subject to change.
5K, 10K & Kiddie Run
Sunday, February 21, 2016
- 5K starts at 8:00 A.M.
- 10K starts at 8:30 A.M.
- Kiddie Run starts at 9:45A.M.
*Start times subject to change.
Where: Chinatown Central Plaza, located at 943 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
General Pricing:
- 5/10K Run/Walk or 20mi/30mi+ Bike Ride:
- On-Site: Starting at $50 (2/20/16 – 2/21/16)
Kiddie Run Pricing:
- On-Site: Starting at $25 (2/20 – 2/21)
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