SF Chinatown Parade Details Set

This celebration dates back to the 1860s, when Chinese immigrants of the Gold Rush era blended their cultural traditions with the American custom of a parade to share their heritage. What began as a local community event along Grant Avenue is now one of the few remaining illuminated night parades in North America and has been organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce since 1958. The parade route covers approximately 1.3 miles and lasts for about two and a half hours. It begins at the corner of Second and Market streets, travels around Union Square, and concludes at Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue. A major highlight is the 288-foot-long Golden Dragon, known as "Gum Lung." This intricate float requires a team of more than 180 men and women from the White Crane martial arts group to carry it through the streets of San Francisco. The parade serves as the grand finale for the Lunar New Year festival, which also includes events like the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant. The pageant was established in the 1950s when Chinese American women were excluded from other mainstream beauty contests. This year's parade celebrates the Year of the Horse. The event draws an estimated three million viewers in person and through television and streaming broadcasts across the U.S., Canada, and Asia.