By Jesse Braun

With more than 50 thousand Khmer living locally, Long Beach is the second-largest Cambodian population outside of South East Asia (someplace called Paris has the most) and Little Phnom Penh, on Anaheim Street, is our local Cambodian epicenter. But for an authentic taste of Khmer home cooking, the place to be is El Dorado Park for the annual Chaul Chnam Thmey celebration. Held two weeks after the annual Cambodian New Year Parade, the event features religious ceremonies, Cambodian games, traditional dance, live bands, and Khmer food vendors selling a variety of traditional Cambodian snacks. Parking tickets can be purchased in advance at any participating Little Phnom Penh business for $20 per car . . . steep, certainly, but compared to the price of a ticket on Angkor Airways it’s a bargain.

2007 CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR FESTIVAL El Dorado Regional Park | Area III | 7550 E Spring St | Long Beach 90815. Sat 1-5pm. On-site parking, day of event, $30 per vehicle.

Tags: To Do