SF’s 2024 Chinese New Year Parade w/ Awkwafina as Grand Marshall
Named one of the world’s top ten parades, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. It was started in the 1860s and takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair (Feb. 24-25, 2024).
Typically, nearly 100 groups will participate in the parade and many of the floats and specialty groups will be featuring the theme of this year’s Chinese zodiac sign. 2024’s Parade Grand Marshall will be Awkwafina, an award-winning actress, comedienne and rapper.
Grand Marshal Awkwafina will light the ceremonial opening firecrackers to kick off the Year of the Dragon. Watch as “Lisa Performing Arts,” the Parade’s opening act, brings to life the beauty and energy of Chinese culture in a mesmerizing performance that will leave you captivated. Be on the lookout for Honorary Marshal, Mayor Willie Brown, who will help us usher in the Year of the Dragon.
2024 Chinese New Year Parade
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 5:15 – 8 pm
Chinatown, San Francisco
FREE standing room (bleacher seats start at $41)
- Rain or Shine
- Parade is approximately 1.3 miles in length and lasts about 2 1/2 hours.
Nowhere in the country will you see a lunar new year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers, and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court.
A crowd favorite will be the new and spectacular 288-foot Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). It takes a team of over 180 men and women from the martial arts group White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.
Parade Route
The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Dragon will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 5:15 pm, stepping off at Second and Market Streets. It is a free event for all to attend, but tickets must be purchased to sit in the bleacher sections.
The parade starts off at 2nd and Market Streets, goes around Union Square and ends at Kearny Street & Columbus Ave. The distance of the parade route is approximately 1.3 miles. The parade is a free event for all to attend and you may stand anywhere on the parade route, behind the barricades, to watch the parade.
The map also shows the location of crossing points through the parade route. These areas can be used to safely cross the parade route but must be kept clear for emergency personnel. Please do not stand in these areas to watch the parade.
It is strongly suggested to take public transportation.
