Richmond hosts first public Nowruz celebration at Marina Bay Park
The City of Richmond hosted its first public Nowruz celebration on Saturday, March 22, at Marina Bay Park, bringing together community members, local leaders, and performers to mark the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring.
The event, initiated by District 4 Councilmember Soheila Bana, highlighted the contributions of immigrant cultures to American society and celebrated themes of renewal, unity, and diversity.
“It’s our celebration, a celebration of our culture, American culture. We are part of America,” Bana said in her address. “We come here, and we bring our culture together.”
Bana said she initiated the Nowruz celebration to share her culture, but it’s about more than that. It’s about shared culture and how American society grows richer and more vibrant by welcoming immigrants and embracing their traditions.
“Nowruz, the oldest cultural celebration still observed today, is not tied to a single nationality — it’s about the rebirth of nature, the arrival of spring, and the timeless human celebration of nature and renewal,” Bana said.
Nazy Kaviani, founder of the nonprofit Diaspora Arts Connection, welcomed attendees by emphasizing their connection to a celebration of 300 million people and a tradition that has endured for 3,000 years.
“I appreciate the importance of immigrants and what they can bring to and how we can learn together through our culture and arts, free of borders, free of religion, free of anything that separates us,” Kaviani said. “Because music and culture unites us.”
Several elected officials participated in the event, including Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, and representatives from the offices of state and federal legislators.
Mayor Eduardo Martinez shared a story about helping an Iranian woman in 1981 trying to get her mother to the US for surgery before quoting the Persian poet Hafez.
“Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you, and then we have the place where you are right now; God circled on a map for you. So we are here because happiness will find us here, and it has found us here,” Martinez said. “This is a joyful event, and I’m happy that all of you are here.
Bana expressed gratitude to the city administration, event sponsors, and attendees. “Together, we can do everything, including celebrating our culture and feeling at home,” she said.
As the celebration continued with music, food, and dance, Bana encouraged making Nowruz a permanent fixture in Richmond. “This is our first year, but we should have it every year,” she said.
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