Lunar New Year 2024 Parade & Events

Chinese New Year Parade

One of the grandest nighttime illuminated parades in the U.S., the parade started in the 1860s and has grown to be one of the largest celebrations of Asian culture in this hemisphere. Parade highlights include elaborate floats, lion dancers, folk dancers, costumed school groups, marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats and a 268-foot-long Golden Dragon.

This year's parade will be held on Feb. 24 and will start on Second and Market streets. If this is your first parade, bleacher seats might be a good suggestion. Crowds are extremely dense along the parade route. If you opt for the standing room option, be sure to stake out your spot well before parade time. Arriving between 3:30 and 4 p.m. is recommended. Ear plugs are suggested for all ages; firecrackers are an integral part of the parade. Parking south of Market St. is usually easier; garages in Union Square will be impacted by crowds and street closures. Muni and BART are excellent options to get to and from the parade. And bring an umbrella. It will often rain on the parade, and it is considered good luck, so everyone takes it in stride.

Chinatown Street Fair

The San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce will host a two-day Chinese Community Street Fair, Feb. 24 and 25, with activities and entertainment for all ages. Enjoy Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming and much more at the entertainment stage in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown. The fair will run on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Miss Chinatown USA Pageant

Each year, more than a dozen women from around the U.S. compete for the title of Miss Chinatown U.S.A. This year's pageant will be held on February 23 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco on the Embarcadero. Cocktail hour begins at 5 p..m., then a celebratory dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the pageant and coronation ball to follow at 7:30 p.m.

NightLife at California Academy of Sciences

On Feb. 15, the California Academy of Sciences' weekly NightLife event will delve into Lunar New Year traditions. Join the mahjong mayhem, night market thrills, and lion dance remix.

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San Francisco Symphony

Bring in the Lunar New Year with the San Francisco Symphony on Feb. 17. The concert, conducted by Mei-Ann Chen, draws from a wide range of Asian traditions, and showcases vibrant artists and music to celebrate the holiday.