Benson Quach was 9 years old when he joined the Lucky Lion Dancers, the oldest lion dance group in San Diego, dating back to the 1930s.
The lion dance is a traditional performance in China and other Asian countries meant to bring happiness and ward off evil spirits, with its dancers donning a lion costume and imitating the animal’s actions.
Quach’s mother introduced him to the group, and he recalls at first being a little scared of the costume — a large, colorful lion head and body worn by one dancer and the lion’s back legs and tail, worn by another.
But even as a kid, he appreciated the way the dance brought people together.
“The community (and family) aspect was so fun,” said Quach, now in his 24th year as a dancer. His two brothers are also dancers, he met his wife through the group and he hopes that one day his son — who is 9 months old — will want to join as well.
“Being able to share the culture has just been really fulfilling,” he added.
Crowds enjoy live performances during the 42nd Annual Chinese New Year Fair in Downtown San Diego, CA. (Xavier Hernandez / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
On Saturday, Quach and the Lucky Lion Dancers kicked off the 42nd annual Chinese New Year Fair, a free two-day event in downtown San Diego to celebrate the new year, featuring cultural performances, crafts and food vendors.
This year, 2025, is the Year of the Snake, which represents renewal, good fortune and prosperity. It’s the sixth zodiac animal in the 12-year lunar cycle calendar, following the 2024 Year of the Dragon.
“It’s an era of transformation and a clean slate,” said Kathleen Dang, secretary of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, which hosts the fair. “So we just want to have that kind of optimistic energy… That’s the positive impact (we) want to make on people.”
The fair — held in San Diego’s historic Chinatown near the Gaslamp Quarter — also intends to celebrate and honor the Chinese community in San Diego, which dates back to the mid- to late 1800s, when the first Chinese immigrants arrived in the city.
People had the chance to watch live martial arts performances. (Xavier Hernandez / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Lucky Lion Dancers help represent that long history, with some members being second- or third-generation dancers. It’s also intergenerational, with dancers as young as 4 years old participating alongside their parents and other older members of the community.
Traci Hong, a third-generation Chinese-American whose grandmother grew up in downtown San Diego, says it’s special to see the youths participating.
She adds that it’s not only for the Chinese community; all backgrounds are welcome. “We just want people to enjoy the culture and learn about it,” Hong said.
That sentiment was on display across the fair on Saturday, as hundreds of attendees enjoyed Chinese cuisine and handmade goods from various local vendors, and performances including Chinese martial arts and traditional dance from the San Diego State University Chinese Cultural Center.
Elizabeth Shen-Beall eating a traditional Chinese snack named Tanghulu. (Xavier Hernandez / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
There were also arts and crafts for children, including a mural wall featuring a snake that kids could color in. “We’re really proud to be a family-friendly festival,” Dang said.
City and county leaders were also at the fair’s opening ceremony on Saturday, including county Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, who highlighted developments in the Asian-American community over the last year, including in the Convoy District, San Diego’s most recognizable Asian business district.
She also noted the giant pandas’ arrival from China to the San Diego Zoo last summer, part of a zoo partnership with Chinese wildlife officials. The two pandas, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, were the first pandas to enter the United States in 21 years.
“We had a year of good fortune,” she said to the crowd, “so we have a lot to celebrate and be grateful for.”
The fair continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Originally Published: February 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM PST