Irvine Braces for a Cultural Convergence

The Persian New Year falls on the same day as Easter this year, raising the possibility of diverse cultures competing for space in an Irvine park.

“It’s just going to be a large number of people in a small amount of space,” Sgt. Dave Mihalik, a spokesman for the Irvine Police Department, said of the crunch expected Sunday at William R. Mason Regional Park.

“The gridlock may start earlier and last longer than usual.”

For a dozen years, the 95-acre park has been the scene of what local Iranians say is the largest New Year’s gathering outside Iran, drawing as many as 35,000 picnickers. “It’s the busiest day of the year for us,” said Chuck Thornburg, supervising ranger at the park.

For only the second time since the local custom began, the event falls on Easter Sunday--the park’s second busiest day.

“It appears that it will be a nice day,” Thornburg said, alluding to weather forecasts calling for temperatures in the low 80s. “The park will be very crowded.”

Anticipating a jam, police said they are encouraging celebrants, especially those observing Easter, to try some of the county’s other parks, including those in Laguna Niguel, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Buena Park and Brea.

Mihalik said officials also are advising motorists to avoid University Drive between the San Diego Freeway and MacArthur Boulevard; Culver Drive between Campus Drive and the San Diego Freeway; and Harvard Avenue between Culver and Michelson drives.

Those who do venture out will pay $10 to park at Mason. Additional space will be available at nearby churches and schools.

New Year’s celebrants will be greeted by a tantalizing feast, said Armin Anvaripour, an Iranian American living in Irvine who has participated in the local event since it began.

“It’s kind of a big picnic with family and friends,” he said of the day, which is called Sezdeh-Bedar and marks the 13th day of the Zoroastrian New Year.

Among special foods will be barbecued kabob and chicken, and a traditional vegetable soup called ashraeeeh.

“It’s called a day of nature,” he said. “It’s a day we want to get out of the house to enjoy the outdoors.”