LA's Blossom Plaza Hosts 'Lantern Paw Festival'

The Lantern Paw Festival is a collaboration between Pawsitive MGMT and Firecracker LA, the group behind the 48th Annual Firecracker Run. This partnership situates the pet-focused celebration within one of the city's largest and longest-running Lunar New Year events, which includes a 5/10K run, a bike ride, and the Paw'er Dog Walk. This year's festival celebrated the Year of the Fire Horse, a theme that was incorporated into many of the event's activities. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in themed pet photography sessions and get custom portraits of their pets. The event featured a curated market with a variety of small pet brands. In previous years, vendors have included Korean-made pet product company Choolip, which offered samples of their Berry Good Milk and Squeeze Vita Sticks. Other past activities have included arts and crafts hosted by the Chinatown Los Angeles Public Library and the opportunity to learn Mahjong. Beyond the activities for pets, the festival also included cultural elements for their human companions. Past events have featured boba from Sunright Tea Station, tarot card readings, and a photobooth. While the event was free to attend with an RSVP, attendees had the option to purchase a "$25 Pawsitive Action Supporting Shelters (PASS)". A portion of the proceeds from these passes and the event directly benefit the Lovejoy Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding forever homes for dogs and cats. The Lantern Paw Festival is part of a growing trend of dog-friendly Lunar New Year celebrations across Los Angeles. Other events have included a "Paw'er Dog Walk" as part of the Firecracker Run and a Lunar New Year celebration at the South Coast Botanic Garden.