In San Francisco, we’re lucky that our Lunar New Year festivities are so awesome (spanning seven events across eight dates)—and in particular that our parade is the largest outside of Asia and one of the few remaining illuminated nighttime parades in North America. It’s a beautiful spectacle as the dragons and lions weave their way through city streets, tongues out and eyes flaring, chasing away evil so we can have a wonderful 2025. This year’s parade, officially termed the Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade, happens on Saturday, February 15 (we’ll dive into more details below).
Throughout the festivities, you’ll see Choy Suns (deities that are the god of wealth) passing out thousands of lai sees (red envelopes) to kids, each with a chocolate gold coin inside. Some will also have money inside or a gift certificate that can be redeemed for a toy. If you encounter a Choy Sun, you know you’ll be blessed with prosperity and wealth.
Here are some of the events happening this month and in February and March to usher in good luck.
The Flower Market Fair
January 25 and 26
This celebration provides a chance to buy flowers, Harmony Tray candies and fruits like oranges and tangerines, which are symbols of happiness and abundance (the Cantonese word for tangerine, gut, sounds like good luck, while the word for oranges, gum, sounds like gold, according to the festival’s website). The fair takes place on Grant between Clay and Broadway, with traditional Chinese performances (magicians, acrobats, dancers, opera singers), art displays and more than 120 vendors of all sorts. It is open 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sunday.
Chinese New Year’s Day Opening Ceremony
January 29
Watch for 100 dancers from the Xiaopei Chinese Dance dance school in Dublin to perform synchronized dances for good luck: all ages from elementary school dancers to high school seniors. The performances will include traditional Chinese folk dances and traditionally Western ballet. It happens 11am to 2pm at Portsmouth Square.
Basketball Jamboree
February 8
This basketball tournament takes place at the Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center on Mason Street, and was established by Kenny Lee in fond remembrance of his days growing up in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Miss Chinatown USA Pageant & Coronation Ball
February 14
A Miss Chinatown has been crowned since 1953, and this year’s pageant takes place on Valentine’s Day, followed by the Coronation Ball. It takes place at the Westin St. Francis from 5 to 11pm.
Chinese New Year Parade
February 15
Each float or marching unit is tied in some way to a Chinese cultural theme at this long-running tradition. The parade began when Gold Rush-era Chinese San Franciscans sought to share their culture with those who were unfamiliar with it in the 1860s. The parade begins at 2nd and Market Streets, progresses around Union Square and ends at Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue, a distance of about 1.3 miles. Please note that the SFPD will start closing streets around 3pm, so you’ll want to make your way to your viewing spot before then, along with three million of your fellow humans. The parade begins at 5:15pm and lasts about three hours, rain or shine. This event is of course free, but if you wish to sit in the bleacher seats, you must purchase tickets, starting at $45.
Community Street Fair
February 15 and 16
This street fair happens in conjunction with the parade and continues the next day, on Grant Avenue between California Street and Broadway. There will be more than 120 booths and concessions, plus entertainment on the Pacific Street stage like Chinese folk dancing, opera and drumming. Get that fantastic Instagram shot with giant puppets, dragons and other parade artifacts. This takes place 10am to 4:30pm on Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sunday.
Chinatown YMCA Run
March 2
This 5K/10K walk or run, alternately called the Chinese New Year Run, is happening for the 47th time in 2025. That’s a lot of running! But it’s all for good luck as you run underneath strings of red lanterns.