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On October 19, 2024, Rowland Heights Park was alive with the "Rowland Heights Buckboard Day Festival," an event brought together by the Los Angeles County First District Office and the Department of Parks and Recreation. With the theme "Western Traditions: Celebrating Diverse Communities," fifteen members of the Rowland Heights and Hacienda Heights subchapters from the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) Los Angeles Chapter joined in. They connected with more than 500 attendees, sharing insights into Humanistic Buddhism and raising awareness for the Vege Plan A initiative.
Originally launched in 1971 by the Rowland Heights Women’s Club, the "Rowland Heights Buckboard Days Parade & Festival" has been a staple in building community ties and raising funds for local causes. This year’s event, while missing the traditional parade, still honored the spirit of the community with a festival atmosphere, representing the area's history and cultural diversity. The buckboard wagon, a symbol of the early settlers John and Charlotte Rowland, remains a key emblem, reminding everyone of the community’s deep roots.
Lawrence Luo, manager of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, highlighted the event's importance in celebrating Rowland Heights' rich cultural diversity. More than 30 local groups participated, while families enjoyed a day filled with festivities. People from many backgrounds came together, strengthening the community spirit that defines Rowland Heights. Over 500 attendees joined in for the celebration.
The festival showcased a variety of entertainment: school orchestras, martial arts demonstrations, face painting, inflatable bounce houses, pony rides, and petting zoos. Western-themed activities included cowboy hat-making for kids, trick roping, and mechanical bull rides that had attendees testing their balance and cheering with delight.
The Los Angeles Police Department set up a booth where visitors could try on a police vest, with kids exclaiming, "It’s so heavy!" Nearby, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) from the Santa Fe Springs area provided drunk-driving simulation goggles, letting attendees experience the challenge of walking a straight line or catching objects—an effective reminder of the risks of impaired driving.
The BLIA members from Hacienda Heights promoted Vege Plan A, advocating the benefits of a plant-based diet and gaining interest from nearly 100 attendees. Meanwhile, BLIA members from Rowland Heights shared the teachings of Humanistic Buddhism, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple, and Buddha’s Light Hsi Lai School. They handed out bilingual bookmarks from Venerable Master Hsing Yun's Humble Table, Wise Fare and the bilingual series Buddhism in Every Step, creating connections with visitors. Their ring toss booth, featuring Venerable Master Hsing Yun's blessings, "May You Be Free as Cloud and Water, Auspicious and Joyful," was a crowd favorite, with cheers and laughter filling the air.
(Photos provided by Alex Kuo, Ching Pan & BLIA Los Angeles Chapter)
