Tenderloin celebrates Lunar New Year

Little Saigon was buzzing with activity on Saturday. All ages showed up to eat, play, dance, and watch performances along Larkin Street between Eddy and O’Farrell for the Tet Festival, celebrating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, organized by the Southeast Asian Community Center.

Colorful displays decked out with gleaming banners and floral arrangements welcomed me to the festival when I arrived, immediately followed by wafts of tempting aromas from the food stands. Someone popped a dance track on a stereo, and a few men at one of the stands immediately started moving to the beat.

Kids were flying around inside a bounce house, while a more sedate group of revelers filled in coloring pages nearby.

On the main stage, two women performed songs that one listener explained to me are traditionally sung to mark the new year.

I’m told I missed the biggest crowds, who packed the street from mid morning to early afternoon, and that District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood made an appearance to snap photos with people — including participants in the traditional dress contest.

I did, however, get a chance to chat briefly with Mi Khuu, crowned Mrs. Viet Nam Universe of San Francisco 2012, before she departed for another event in the Richmond.

She said festivals like this are good for the community and the city. Her wish for the Year of the Horse: “family, friends, and community.”

Did you attend the festival and see or get a picture of something I missed? We’re happy to add to this story — send your observations and photos to hello@tlvoice.org.

This post has been updated with photos by Alex Gueret shared by the Southeast Asian Community Center.