On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 24 from 5:30-8:30pm one of the world’s top parades takes place.

The Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the grandest night illuminated parades in the country. Started in the 1860s by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the parade and festival have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. 

Parade highlights include elaborate floats, lion dancers, folk dancers, costumed elementary school groups, marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, and a 268-foot-long Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). The parade starts on Market, goes up Geary, down Post and ends on Kearny at Columbus.