If you happen to be in San Francisco during the Chinese New Year festivities you are in for a treat!
San Francisco's Chinatown celebrations have to be one of the largest and most colorful in the world, just the fantastic dragon parade attracting over one million revelers every year!
And there's more to go around, the flower fairs start ahead of the New Year so everyone can prepare, Miss Chinatown events are also in the calendar, and of course the Street Fairs with the fantastic carnival atmosphere and noisy firecrackers are another staple of the celebrations.
So without much ado, here's what's happening in San Francisco this year as we welcome the Year of the Rat in 2020:
- Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair - Saturday and Sunday, January 17 - 18, 2020
- Miss Chinatown USA Pageant and Coronation Ball - February 1st and February 7, 2020
- Chinese New Year Grand Parade - Saturday, February 8, 2020
- Chinese New Year Community Street Fair - Saturday and Sunday, February 8 - 9, 2020
San Francisco Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair 2020
Always on the weekend prior to the Lunar New Year, the Flower Market Fair is the "grand opening" of the festivities and a fantastic opportunity to load up on all the New Year necessities... Over 120 stalls and booths brimming with decorations, flowers and plants, fruits, gifts, candies, etc. this is more than shopping on steroids though, besides the numerous stalls lining the streets, keep an eye out for the lions and dragons, drummers, dancers and firecrackers...
That's right, there will be a mini-Procession, a preview of what is to come on the big day of the Grand Parade. The short procession begins at St. Mary's Square and follows the original parade route down Grant Avenue and ends at the Flower Market Fair's main stage where the Official Ribbon Cutting ceremony takes place.
San Francisco Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair 2020
When: Saturday and Sunday January 18 - 19, 2020
Stalls and Fair
Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: San Francisco Chinatown on Grant Avenue from California to Broadway, Sacramento, Pacific, Jackson and Washington between Stockton and Kearny
How Much: FREE!
More Info: San Francisco Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair.
Miss Chinatown USA Pageant and Coronation Ball
Miss Chinatown USA Pageant 2020
When: Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 7:30 pm
Where: Palace of Fine Arts Theater at 3301 Lyon Street San Francisco
More Info and Tickets: Miss Chinatown USA Pageant 2020.
Miss Chinatown USA Coronation Ball 2020
When: Friday February 7, 2020
Where: Thunder Valley Casino Resort
How Much: Call the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at (415) 982-3071
More Info: Miss Chinatown USA Coronation Ball.
San Francisco Chinese New Year Grand Parade 2020
The Grand Parade is the highlight of the celebrations and the most anticipated event. An annual tradition that started in the 1860's, it is still going strong and is attended by over a million visitors every year.
Troupes of lion dancers...
... Performers, marching bands, drummers, stilt walkers and entertainers...
...All parade amongst the colorful and sparkling floats in the twilight hours...
... Giving way to the fantastic illuminated 260-foot Golden Dragon, the highlight of the parade, snaking through the streets and bringing cheer, joy and good luck for the New Year, all in a flurry of firecrackers, gongs and drums.
This is of course a FREE event but ticketed stands and bleachers are set up along Kearny Street between California and Sacramento for those who would like a better vantage point and a bit more comfort as some sections of the parade could be over 40 people deep. The bleachers are first-come-first-served and there is NO assigned seating.
San Francisco Golden Dragon Chinese New Year Parade 2020
When: Saturday February 8, 2020 - 5:15 pm - approx. 8:00 pm
Where: Streets of Chinatown. Parade starts at Second and Market Streets, up Post to Powell, down Sutter to Kearny and end at Columbus. Click here for parade route map.
How Much: FREE along the parade route. Bleacher tickets $38+ per person, children under 2 free
This is a smoke-free event!
More Info, Tickets, Parking, Transport: www.chineseparade.com.
And if you can't be here, the parade is broadcast live, tune to KTVU/Fox 2 and KTSF Channel 26 (Chinese broadcast) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
San Francisco Chinese New Year Community Street Fair 2020
The Street Fair takes place on the weekend of the Parade and stalls and booths line the streets of Chinatown.
Organized by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, there are lots of planned activities and entertainment including Chinese folk performances, dancing, opera... all taking place by the stage on Washington below Grant Avenue.
If you are attending the parade, then you can combine both on Saturday. If crowds are not your thing, plan on going on Sunday. You still get to see all the lions, giant puppets and dragons from the parade which also make fantastic props for selfies and give kids a chance for a close up look!
San Francisco Chinese New Year Community Street Fair 2020
When: Saturday and Sunday February 8 - 9, 2020
Booths and Entertainment
Saturday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: San Francisco Chinatown on Grant Avenue from California to Broadway, Sacramento, Jackson and Washington and Pacific between Stockton and Kearny
How Much: FREE!
More Info: San Francisco Chinese New Year Community Street Fair.
Chinese New Year Celebrations Around The World
filling each day with peak of health...
abundance of happiness...
bountiful prosperity...
and Zen like serenity...
Let's Celebrate!
You can decorate easily with traditional or battery-operated lanterns, paper cuttings, lucky coins and banners to add a splash to the celebrations!
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