Hot Springs celebrates Chinese New Year

The community of Hot Springs held its seventh annual Chinese New Year parade on Saturday, Jan. 27. The parade featured approximately 40 adults and children carrying banners. Several people played homemade drums and there were homemade wind instruments. Several men and women helped move a large Chinese dragon and some people were dressed as a black and white sheep. The parade began in front of the Camas Organic Market worked up and down Main street and then back up and down a second time down to stop at the barbershop, where there were several bonfires, drinks, and Asian style food for anyone who was interested.

The Rooster is the Chinese symbol for 2017. The main attraction in the parade this year was a very large Rooster, which appeared to stand nearly 15 feet tall. It was walking about shaking and quaking tail and body, as well as motioning as though it might peck people. Inside the Rooster costume was Hot Springs resident John Erdman, who reported the costume was roughly 40 pounds in weight and was designed around a backpack and hip belt.

“It was done by myself and a team of several other people and it took us several weeks to design and build it,” costume creator Linny Gibson said.