Chinese New Year is just around the corner!
For the Chinese community in Northern California the event is one of the most exciting moments of the year. This is because the Chinese New Year Festival is full of activities and rich in cultural history. It originated in the 1860's during the Gold Rush period as a way to remind the community as well as the next generations about the Chinese culture.
Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco has become the largest Asian public event in Northern California. The center of the festival activities, which include the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and Chinatown Community Street Fair, is the parade. Known as one of top ten parades in the world, San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade will delight and entertain hundreds of thousands of watchers on the street or on television.
With an elaborate theme of the year, the parade brings the viewers into a fantasy world with numerous gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, and exploding firecrackers. Other activities include school marching bands, martial arts groups, and Miss Chinatown U.S.A., which is chosen in the annual Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant to become ambassador for the Chinese community throughout the year. Participants for the competition are young men and women throughout the United State.
The 21-foot tall Golden Dragon highlights the parade when showing up as the grand finale. Carried by a team of more than 100 people, the Golden Dragon bears the rainbow colored pompoms on its 6 foot-long head.
Don't miss a chance to watch the parade live on the street or on television on KTVU Fox 2 or KTSF Channel 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014.
Check out San Francisco New Year Parade here