LONG BEACH - After a tumultuous offseason, the Cambodian New Year parade celebrating the Year of the Ox, 2553 on the Cambodian calendar, will embark today on its annual trek down Anaheim Street.

With its colorful array of floats, cars, community groups and dance troupes in traditional costume, the parade will once again be cheered on by thousands along the route from Junipero Avenue to MacArthur Park.

That the parade would be staged for a fifth straight year was not always a sure thing.

This year's theme, Cambodia Town for Prosperity, is ironic given financial hardships that were still being worked out days before the event.

After last year's parade and the related New Year celebration at El Dorado Park, the Cambodian Coordinating Council reported a $40,000 deficit owed to the city for services.

Parade organizers and the city settled on a payment plan to make up the deficit and enough money has been raised to keep the parade going this year.

This year's event is scheduled to begin about 9:45 a.m. with the traditional interfaith celebration.

Local pastors Wayne Chaney and Samuel Nhim will deliver prayers and local monks will bless the event.

Last year, the parade featured more than 80 entrants, its most ever. This year,

52 entrants were officially signed up as of Thursday with more expected who invariably sign up at the last minute.

After the parade wends past MacArthur Park, there will be a celebration from noon until 4 p.m. at a lot on the corner of Walnut Avenue and Anaheim Street with entertainment, refreshments and activities.