HUNTINGTON BEACH : College Postpones 2-Day Tet Celebration

Because of the continuing rain, Golden West College is postponing its Tet Festival until next weekend.

The college’s annual, two-day festival was originally scheduled to start today.

The Tet Festival has been rescheduled for Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event celebrates the Vietnamese new year, which starts Jan. 23.

“This is a major community event for the college, and since the festival attracts about 50,000 visitors, we wanted to make sure they are comfortable and not traipsing around in mud,” said Lori Thomas, a spokeswoman for the college.

The Tet Festival at the college is sponsored by the Union of Vietnamese Student Assns. Thomas said the union is an umbrella group that represents Vietnamese student groups from more than 100 U.S. universities and colleges.

Thomas said the union picked Golden West College as its focal site for an annual Tet Festival “because our campus is very park-like.” She added that Golden West also has one of the largest enrollments of Vietnamese college students in the nation.

The festival features an array of shows, food booths and games. Students wear traditional Vietnamese costumes. This year’s event will be the 11th Tet Festival celebrated at Golden West College, which is in the 15000 block of Golden West Street.

Admission is $2 per adult and $2 per child four feet tall or taller. Children under 4 feet are admitted free. Thomas said that proceeds from the event are used for scholarships, for Vietnamese refugee centers and for community centers for Vietnamese-Americans.

“This festival means a lot to the students,” Thomas said. “It’s a way for them to keep their traditions alive.”