For the 15th year, the streets of Central Long Beach will once again be blanketed in vibrant displays of culture and community this spring at the annual Cambodia Town Parade, scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 2.

The city’s historic Cambodia Town will ring in the Cambodian new year, and this year’s event theme, “Stop Hate With Love,” is aimed at bringing the community together “in the spirit of love, unity, peace, caring, empathy, and compassion to all dimensions of diversity and raise awareness of anti-racism and discrimination, including anti-Asian hate,” according to a statement.

Participants offer gifts to monks during the 14th Annual Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival in Long Beach on Sunday, April 3, 2022. Photo by Crystal Niebla.

The event will kick off at the intersection of East Anaheim Street and Cherry Avenue with an interfaith blessing at 9 a.m., followed by the parade at 10 a.m.

“Groups in authentic Khmer costumes, the grand marshals, and other groups from diverse communities” will travel west on Anaheim Street toward MacArthur Park, where the cultural festival will take place from 1 to 5 p.m.

The cultural festival will feature local Khmer artisans, music, dancing, food, games and other vivid representations of Cambodian culture. Thousands gather each year to celebrate and take part in the festivities in Long Beach, home to the  largest Cambodian community of any city outside of Cambodia.

Volunteers are needed to help facilitate the event, and those interested can register here. Registered volunteers must attend a virtual meeting via Zoom on Monday, March 27, at 7 p.m.

More information about the event and its history can be found on the Cambodia Town website.