This year, 2024, is the year of the dragon! In the Chinese Zodiac, the year of the dragon is said to bring prosperity, authority, good fortune, evolution, and improvement. The dragon is a well-known mascot in Chinese culture and is associated with good luck, justice, prosperity, and strength. In Chinese culture, the dragon is considered a celestial and divine creature that can control natural elements like wind and water. In Orlando we are fortunate enough to have the “Dragon Parade Lunar New Year”, an annual event put together by Mills 50 – City of Orlando Mainstreet District, Asia Trend, REACH of Central Florida and YESS.
The parade in the neighborhood of Mills 50 is billed as Florida’s biggest Lunar New Year celebration and which attracted up to 6,000 attendees.
Now in its 12th year, the ‘Dragon Parade’ has become a regular Lunar New Year for Florida tourists, who have been flocking to the Central Florida Mills 50 District, an integral hub for the Central Florida Asian-American community and a hotbed of trendy small businesses and urban art.
Dragon Parade kicked off with the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple dragon dance, lion dance and kung fu demonstrations which trailed through the area, with a diverse array of displays from eight dragon dances total, many lion dances, Japanese Taiko drums, Indian and Vietnamese traditional wear, and much more.
The event turnout was great, and it was very heartwarming to see our community come together to celebrate different cultures, for me this is what makes Orlando home. Our city upholds and honors our diversity, and we draw inspiration and unity from it which makes us strong. It was empowering to see local officials, businesses and community members from all sorts of backgrounds and walks of life come together to celebrate the year of the dog. While I’d like to make the most of this year, I’m already looking forward to next year’s festival’s pomp and uplifting ambiance.
Grateful to ADP for their generous support again as a title sponsor. Dragon Sponsors: City of Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Orlando Magic, and Payas, Payas & Payas Attorneys At Law. Gold Sponsors: City of Orlando District 3 Commissioner: Robert F. Stuart, Maaswinkel Law P.A., OUC – The Reliable One, Universal Orlando Resort, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Overseas Community Affairs Council, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Miami (Taiwan in Miami), Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Greater Orlando TCCGO 大奧蘭多臺灣商會, Global Federation of Chinese Business Women (GFCBW), and Orange TV-Orange County, Florida
Visit www.centralfloridadragonparade.org for more photos and videos. You can also LIKE www.facebook.com/Orlando.Dragon.Parade / Follow www.instagram.com/dragonparadecfl
