Detroit's riverfront was a vibrant hub of cultural festivities this weekend as the city celebrated Lunar New Year with a bang, and not just the kind from thunder drums. A range of events, including arts and crafts, food trucks, and a parade, drew large crowds to the heart of the city to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

According to CBS News Detroit, the Detroit Riverfront resonated with the powerful sound of Raion Taiko, a performance featuring Japanese thunder drums that captivated onlookers Saturday night. "Anything music, I'm drawn to it, and I enjoy especially when it's live," Teresa Johnson, a local Detroiter and spectator, told CBS News Detroit. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's Marc Pasco highlighted the riverfront's all-season appeal, stating, "We're a four-season destination. Winter, not as many people are out and about, but we like to give people a good excuse to come down and enjoy the riverfront."

The celebration was a part of the ongoing 'Winter at Valade' program, which is in its final week. Detroit Riverfront's Instagram announcement promised a full slate of activities, with arts and crafts on Saturday and a spread of tasty offerings from local food vendors such as Lor Bistro and Paradise Street Eats on Sunday. The Michigan Taiwanese American Organization also joined in from 1-4 pm Sunday to further enrich the occasion.

It wasn't just about the Lunar New Year in the D, though. As ClickOnDetroit reported, Detroit played host to a variety of events to cater to diverse tastes throughout the weekend. From monster trucks at Ford Field to the Great Lakes Comic Convention in Macomb County for comic book enthusiasts, Metro Detroit was a bustling hub with something for everyone. Outdoor lovers even had their share of the fun with the Outdoorama show, featuring activities such as archery and fishing, along with live hunting seminars and lumberjack demonstrations.

Amid the variety of activities that energized the city, the culmination of the Lunar New Year festivities at the Detroit Riverfront stood out as a beacon of community spirit, ringing in a new year with cultural exchange and celebration.