Korean culture is focus for July 12-13 Lotus Festival; St. James’ Episcopal School drummers to perform

All are welcome for the 44th annual Lotus Festival (opens in a new tab), a citywide celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, set for July 12-13 around L.A.’s Echo Park Lake. Korea is this year’s highlighted country, and traditional drummers and other musicians from St. James’ Episcopal School (opens in a new tab), located in Koreatown-Wilshire Center, will perform on the festival’s main stage on Sunday at 1:10 p.m.

Led by the school’s director of music, Dr. Jihae Lee, students and alumni are scheduled to perform traditional Korean selections including the song “Arirang” (orchestral rendering) followed by a puppet dance, a drumming dance titled “Nanta,” and other works by the school’s Korean drumming team.

Ministry partners from St. Paul’s Commons (opens in a new tab), located across Echo Park Lake from the festival area, will host display tables in the exhibit area. Booth hosts include Seeds of Hope (opens in a new tab), the diocesan food security ministry; St. Athanasius Episcopal Church (opens in a new tab), Echo Park, a participant since the festival’s inception; and Holy Spirit Episcopal Community (opens in a new tab)Echo Park/Silver Lake.

Visitors also are welcome for weekend worship gatherings at the Commons, including the 9:30 a.m. July 12 Saturday Shabbat service of Nefesh (opens in a new tab)synagogue, and the Sunday Eucharist services of St. Athanasius Church at 9 a.m. in Spanish and 11 a.m. in English.

Seeds of Hope will open its Edendale Grove teaching garden, located at 860 Echo Park Ave., to festival-goers, and Seeds of Hope staffers have formed at team to enter the traditional dragon boat race on Echo Park Lake.

There is no charge for festival admission, and various vendors will provide food and beverages.