ATLANTIC CITY, NJ? (January 20, 2009) -- - The Better Atlantic City Association proudly presents the first annual Pan Asian Parade, Sunday, February 1^st 2009 celebrating the Chinese New Year. The parade route begins at Connecticut Avenue at 1pm, proceeds along Atlantic Avenue and then culminates at Atlantic City Outlets, The Walk on Michigan Avenue in Atlantic City .

Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford will serve as Grand Marshall and lead a procession that will include over 200 performers and dozens of marchers, spanning six city blocks. Traditional elements of the Chinese New Year celebrations such as the Lion and Dragon dances will be featured, along with performances by the Voice of China Wind band, the Tribal Waist Drum Team, Dai’ Tribe Dancing team and many others including a very special Kung Fu demonstration. TV personalities from NBC 40 are participating in Atlantic City ’s first Pan Asian Parade, which also features several vehicles provided by Shore Toyota of Mays Landing.

The parade welcomes the year of the Ox, lunar year 4707. The Ox is a terrific sign under which to launch the parade because it symbolizes success and prosperity that is created by hard work. Those born under the sign of the Ox tend to be painters, architects and engineers. The typical Ox is a tolerant person with strong character.

The Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays for Chinese families and its popularity has spread throughout the both the Asian and non-Asian communities.? The Chinese New Year is recognized nationwide with major parades and festivities taking place in cities such as New York , San Francisco and Portland , Ore.

The Better Atlantic City Association, a new non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives and businesses of Atlantic City ’s citizens and promote Atlantic City as a world-class tourist destination, sponsors the Pan Asian Parade. You can find more information about the organization at www.betteratlanticcity.com

The parade’s co-sponsors are The Chinese Journal and Sinocast Group LLC who will be publishing Atlantic City ’s first Chinese newspaper, the Atlantic City Chinese Journal in February. This new monthly newspaper will distribute approximately 20,000 newspapers throughout Atlantic County as well as in New York City , Philadelphia and Delaware .? Call (609) 992-6745 to find out more about the AC Chinese Journal.

The Pan Asian Parade is also sponsored by the City of Atlantic City , Atlantic City Outlets, The Walk, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New Jersey, ShopRite Supermarkets, NBC-40, Shore Toyota, The Melting Pot and NU Vision Consultant Group.