ANNUAL EVENT DRAWS CROWD FOLKS MIX AT LOTUS FESTIVAL.

Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer

ECHO PARK - Whether watching traditional Polynesian dances or sampling Filipino halo-halo, the crowds on hand for the 23rd annual Lotus Festival at L.A.'s Echo Park found abundant ways to pass the time.

The two-day festival celebrating Asian and Pacific Island culture was kicked off in style Saturday, as Angelenos turned out in full force to sample a variety of cultural experiences.

Although this year's theme highlighted Chinese culture in particular, a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds were represented, both by performers and the attendees. Some came for the first time, but for many others the Lotus Festival is an annual event.

``I've been coming to this almost all my life,'' said Anthony Orona, an Echo Park resident. ``It gets really crowded in the evening. A lot of people in Echo Park and Silverlake come down.''

Orona was on hand primarily as a vendor, selling ladies' garments from a booth in the boutique area, yet he made sure to take some time to walk around the park and enjoy the festival atmosphere. The fun wasn't limited to Lotus Festival veterans, however.

``This is my first time, but I'm really enjoying it so far,'' said Christina Perez, a Miami resident who is visiting friends in the area.

The event has been a fixture of the Echo Park community since 1972, growing from a single-day event, which drew a few thousand people, to a weekend presentation. This year's event is likely to bring in several hundred thousand attendees, according to Councilman Mike Hernandez, who represents the 1st District.

``It's an excellent way for everyone to get together,'' Hernandez said. ``It represents what L.A. can be when it recognizes its people. All the different communities can get together and share something.''

The festival's cosmopolitan appeal was readily evident. Visitors waited in line for exotic foods such as Vietnamese sugar cane drink and spicy Thai noodles, and the air was filled with the sound of multiple languages as customers placed their orders in Spanish, Tagalog, Cantonese, Japanese, Lao and English, to name just a few.

People at the park Saturday praised the festival's laid-back atmosphere and the opportunity to interact with the local community.

Prior to their performance on the main stage, members of the Na Kapaku Hula Halau Kula Kai 'O Kaleponi, a Pacific Island dance ensemble, said they were excited to get the chance to showcase their skills.

``It's nice because we're just coming here to have fun,'' said Irina Ieremia, 15, of Carson. ``We get the chance to perform for our families.''

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2 photos

Photo: (1) Above, Kirby Lim of Walnut raises a dragon's head for the Lotus Festival's opening ceremony. At left, Izumi Kastner of Sherman Oaks admires lotus plants in Echo Park's lake.

(2) Tam Tsang of the Hwa Yi Chinese Ethnic Dance company performs a traditional Chinese dance at Echo Park.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer