THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IS WELCOMED IN DAZZLING FASHION
EVERY YEAR IN SAN FRANCISCO.
During the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, the town of Yerba Buena (pop: 459) gained 50,000 new residents and changed its name to San Francisco. Many of the city’s new inhabitants were Chinese immigrants who worked in the area’s gold mines and railroads. In an effort to showcase their vibrant culture, they held the first Chinese New Year Parade, marching down what are today Grant Avenue and Kearny Street, carrying colorful flags, banners, lanterns, drums and firecrackers.
This year, on March 3rd, the parade will celebrate the Year of the Boar in front of more than 200,000 people, with gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, dragon dances and much more, in the largest celebration of this holiday outside of Asia. www.chineseparade.com