Thousands soak in Lao New Year in Saginaw with Water and Tradition

Water balloons sailed through the air, bursting against laughing crowds. Hoses and water guns launched water from sidewalks and parade floats alike. Clouds of shaving cream clung to hair, clothes and faces.

At Saginaw’s Wat Lao Thepnimith temple, the streets became a river of celebration on Sunday as thousands welcomed the Lao New Year.

Around 20,000 people traveled from across Texas for the three-day festival — the largest Lao New Year gathering in the nation, according to organizers.

At the heart of it all was Sunday’s parade, where crowds marched, danced and splashed through the neighborhood streets, turning the temple grounds into a swirling festival of color, music and tradition.

In Lao culture, splashing friends and strangers with water symbolizes washing away the past year’s misfortunes and inviting good health, wealth and luck. Along the parade route, even homeowners joined in, dousing attendees using garden hoses and tossing water balloons from their driveways.

Between the splashing and shaving cream battles, the temple grounds pulsed with life.

Dozens of vendors served up Lao and Thai delicacies — grilled meats, sticky rice, papaya salad and sweet coconut desserts — as music blared and traditional dancers performed.

For many, the festival is more than a party, it’s a chance to pass down traditions, reconnect with community, and mark a new beginning, one splash at a time.

This story was originally published April 27, 2025 at 10:23 PM.

Christopher Torres

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Christopher Torres is a former journalist for the Star-Telegram