Celebrate The Lunar New Year With Metrolink Ride To Chinatown (2008)

The First 300 Guests Will Receive A Free Round-trip Ticket

ORANGE – To celebrate the Lunar New Year, residents can receive free tickets from the Metrolink station in Irvine to Chinatown in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 9.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is extending a special holiday greeting to the community by commemorating the “Year of the Rat” with a one-hour program starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Irvine Transportation Center, 15215 Barranca Parkway in Irvine.

“The year of the rat is said to bring opportunity and good prospects,” said OCTA Chairman Chris Norby. “This event is a great way to kick off a plentiful year and honor the Asian-American community for their contribution.”

Festivities will feature good wishes from local elected officials, traditional music, a performance by the Truong Son Vietnamese-American Girl Scout troop and food provided by Lee’s Sandwiches. The finale will include a traditional lion dance accompanied by drums to welcome a new year of joy and good fortune for Metrolink passengers. Residents may then hop on the 10:37 a.m. train to Los Angeles, where they can enjoy the Chinese New Year Festival and Car Show as well as the 109th annual Golden Dragon Parade.

The first 300 guests will receive free round-trip Metrolink tickets, courtesy of Jacobs Carter Burgess, to continue the celebration in Los Angeles’ Chinatown.

All Metrolink tickets are good for a free transfer on the Gold Line trains to Chinatown. For train schedules and information, visit www.octa.net/lunar.aspx.

Lucky Facts
The Lunar New Year is celebrated by China, Korea and Vietnam
18 percent of Metrolink passengers are Asian Americans
27 percent of Irvine residents are Asian Americans
17 percent of Orange County residents are Asian Americans
95 percent of the 500 participants last year were pleased with the event