It’s one of the Top 10 Parades in the World, but to San Franciscans, it’s just a great way to celebrate another New Year. The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade and Festival will begin on Saturday, February 27th, 2010, as lunar year 4078, the Year of the Tiger, is welcomed.
Originating in 1860’s as a way for the Chinese community to celebrate and share their culture with Americans, current festivities and traditions are a distinctive combination of both cultures. Growing over the years, the festival is now the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia.
The two and a half hour parade, one of the few remaining illuminated parades in the country, will start at 2nd & Market, weaving through the streets and finally ending in the heart of Chinatown. With over 100 entries that include floats, elaborate costumes, fierce creatures, acrobats, the 250 foot Golden Dragon (with a crew of over 100 people to carry it), firecrackers, and lots of noise, this celebration promises to be just as exciting as enthusiastic as past years.
If you are making plans to attend the parade, bleacher seats are still available (price $30). Or, plan to find a spot along the streets, but keep in mind that the streets will become more crowded the closer you get to Chinatown.
A full list of celebration and events can be found here.
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Photo credit: Global Jet @flickr
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