It is almost the year of the dragon! This year, the Lunar New Year begins on February 10th and ends on the 24th, but San Francisco’s famous celebrations span the entire month. Celebrate the holiday with Parades, street fairs, flower markets, and more!

As it is the year of the dragon, a cultural and historical symbol of good luck, prosperity, and strength, we can expect to see intricate and exciting dragon dances in the parades. People born in the year of the dragon are often seen as charismatic, intelligent, confident, powerful, and lucky. Get ready to celebrate the holiday with lanterns, parades, longevity noodles, and red envelopes!

Here are a few of San Francisco’s celebrations to keep in mind:

Flower Market Fair (Feb 3-4): Join San Francisco on Grant Ave between Sacramento and Broadway to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies, and supplies to decorate your home in preparation for the holiday! There will be performances by traditional Chinese magicians, acrobats, folk dancers, and opera surrounding the over 120 booths.

Chinese New Year Parade (Feb 24): With exciting dance troupes, lanterns, music, and food, the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, located between Market and Columbus, is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. There are bleacher tickets for purchase online, and standing areas around the route.

Community Street Fair (Feb 24-25): After the parade, enjoy the 115+ booths and concessions lining Chinatown. There are activities for all ages with live folk dancing, drumming, opera, and artifacts from the parade itself. Take a picture with the giant dragon, watch a performance, or enjoy a traditional meal!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! We hope you enjoy this month of celebrations!

More Helpful Articles

A Taste of Mardi Gras

A Taste of Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras! Known for large parades and glistening beads, Mardi Gras is one of the best times of the year for New Orleans. This year, be sure to join in on the fun by trying out these classic recipes.  New Orleans Gumbo This Louisiana-based stew is one of the...

read more

How Cupid Became the Face of Love

Happy Valentine's Day! Often associated with hearts and Cupid, Valentine's Day is the one day every year when people are expected to go above and beyond to showcase their love for one another. Over time, people have begun to associate the love they show with a beloved...

read more

Happy Groundhog Day!

It’s groundhog day which means today we determine when spring will begin! While you’ve probably heard of the celebration before, how well do you really know the holiday? Follow along below to put your knowledge to the test with this Groundhog Day quiz. When did...

read more