Renton, WA — Over a dozen people gathered on a cool, drizzly Saturday morning at Veterans Memorial Park to watch Renton’s Lunar New Year Lion Dance procession move through downtown Renton.
The event was organized by We Love Renton, AAPI Against Hate, Vietnamese American Communities of Seattle and Sno-King Counties, and Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn. Youth from Vovinam Burien provided live percussion and performed the traditional lion dance, bringing rhythmic drumming and bright movement to the festivities.
Two lions — one red and one white — began their dance on separate sidewalks leading toward the Veterans Memorial monument before converging near the statue at its base. The procession then moved toward the intersection of South 3rd Street and Main Avenue South, where the lions paused to perform on the corner before crossing west along 3rd Street.
From there, the lions danced in front of, and inside, several downtown businesses, including CK Nails & Spa, Common Ground, the Erasmus statue, Macadons, Pho Asia Noodle House Renton, and Details Barbershop, where the procession concluded.
Speaking near the dragon statue — which is named after Erasmus Smithers, a figure in Renton’s early development — Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn said organizers selected Veterans Memorial Park as a way to respect fallen veterans and ancestors. She described Erasmus as “the creator of the city… not founder — Renton was never lost.” She also noted that visiting local businesses along the route was a way to show community support.
Vovinam Burien instructors shared that they recently taught lion dance techniques to students at Hazen High School and were invited by the councilmember to participate in Saturday’s procession.
Despite the damp weather, attendees followed the lions along the route, stopping to watch as drums echoed between storefronts and the colorful costumes moved through downtown — a bright start to the Lunar New Year in Renton.
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