Dogs and their owners received medals after completing the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cindy Decker, of Long Beach waits for the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners participated in the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Lion dancers perform at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners received medals after completing the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Lion dancers perform during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Lion dancers wait for the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners set off for the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs get a drink of water before they set off for the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists set off for a 20-mile ride at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists set off for a 40-mile ride during 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners participated in the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Julie To, center, of San Gabriel holds Mickey as they pose for a photo with Ed Lew, emcee for the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners participated in the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists set off for a 20-mile ride at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
EE receives a medal after completing the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners received medals after completing the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists line up ahead of the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Susie Zamora, left, of Burbank shows a medal to Hershey after they earned it for completing the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists set off for a 40-mile ride during 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Firecrackers explode at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Firecrackers explode at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists rest before the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Eliot Han, 37, of Tujunga waits for the start of the45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Dogs and their owners received medals after completing the Paw-er Walk during the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists set off on a 40-mile ride at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cyclists set off for a 20-mile ride at the start of the 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. The two-day event started with a 40-mile and 20-mile bike ride as well as a walk for dogs and their owners. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The 45th L.A. Chinatown Firecracker two-day event got off to a rousing start on Saturday, Feb. 17, with greetings from guest speakers, lion dancers and, of course, firecrackers.
Saturday’s event, beginning and ending at Chinatown Central Plaza on Broadway in Los Angeles, included a 40-mile and a 20-mile bike ride and a walk for dogs and their human friends.
The early morning event on Sunday also had a similar opening ceremony with firecrackers before the start of a 10K Run, a 5K Run/Walk and a Kiddie Run.
The Firecracker included “Legacy Runners,” those who have participated every year since the event began. These runners include Sam Gee, 88, and Roger On, 80, and J. Miguel Esparza, a 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran. Esparza, who lives in Granada Hills, has said that he credits the “Chi Running” technique for being able to pursue his running longevity at his age.
Participants who finished their event received a Year of the Rabbit medal — many past participants look forward to collecting all 12 “year of the” animal-depicted medals over the years.
Both event days included a post-race expo with booths and vendors, a new Chalk Art Festival and a Boba Garden.
The Firecracker is among the last of the regional Chinese New Year events this season. The venerable event is run by a group of non-paid volunteers, the L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run Committee, Inc.
The organizers mission is to “promote health and fitness, education, cultural awareness and community involvement.”
For those who couldn’t participate in-person there is an option to be a virtual participant for each of the events. Proceeds from the event go to support programs in elementary schools and nonprofit organizations in the local neighborhoods.
Chinatown Central Plaza, 943 N. Broadway, Los Angeles. http://www.oldchinatownla.com
Firecracker email: infor@firecracker10k.org. firecracker10K.org
Holly Andres | Editorial assistant and calendar editor Holly Andres has been editorial assistant and calendar editor since 1997 for the Los Angeles Daily News. She graduated from Cal State Northridge with a history degree.