🧧 Chinese New Year Parade — Celebrate Together in San Francisco! 🐉 🏮✨
Details
Join us for one of San Francisco’s most iconic traditions — the Chinese New Year Parade, filled with dazzling floats, lion dancers, music, lanterns, and the unforgettable Golden Dragon winding through the streets of Chinatown as we celebrate the Year of the Horse! 🐎
We’ll gather near the end of the parade route, where the energy is high and the crowds begin to thin a bit, making it a great spot to enjoy the festivities together.
📍 Where to Meet
Outside Today Food
601 Kearny St., San Francisco
(Intersection of Kearny St. & California St.)
🏮 Meet at 6:15 PM
The parade begins earlier at 2nd & Market at 5:15 PM and reaches our viewing area later in the evening. Look for our sparkly green streamers and your hosts, Leah and Sylvie, who will be wearing colorful bead necklaces. The parade is scheduled to end around 8:30 PM.
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👉 Detailed meetup logistics, directions, and tips:
Logistics for Chinese New Years Parade and Great Eastern Dinner
👉 Official parade website: chineseparade.com
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🚆 Getting There (Highly Recommended)
Parking in this area is difficult and expensive, so public transit is strongly recommended.
BART:
• Exit at Montgomery Street Station
• Walk 0.4 miles (10 minutes) straight up Montgomery to California, then 1 block to Kearny.
👉 https://www.bart.gov
All transit options (BART, Muni, Caltrain, buses, etc.):
👉 https://chineseparade.com/transportation
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🎉 What to Expect
- A vibrant community celebration
- Firecrackers, performers, and cultural traditions
- Festive nighttime atmosphere in historic Chinatown
- A fun shared experience with your New Beginnings friends
🧣 Dress warmly — it can get chilly once the sun goes down — and expect crowds and lots of excitement! Also, bring ear plugs to protect your hearing; those firecrackers are loud and non-stop!
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🥟 Want to Join Us for Dinner BEFORE the Parade?
A smaller group will start the evening early with a relaxed intimate dinner at Great Eastern Restaurant, a beloved Chinatown spot known for its dim sum and classic Chinese dishes. Details and separate RSVP here:
👉 Chinese Dinner in SF's Chinatown BEFORE the Parade
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Come celebrate the Lunar New Year together — whether you stay for a little while or the whole evening. The parade is always more fun when it’s shared! 🧧🐲
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🔷 See our Group Guidelines HERE
🔴 Help Keep the Fun Going in 2026
We’re a volunteer-led group, and member contributions help cover annual Meetup fees and occasional venue rentals. See our 2026 contributor list. Please make your annual $20 contribution for 2026 by giving cash with your name to the host at an in-person event. (Contributions are not tax-deductible.) As a thank-you, you can opt in to receive one-way group text updates with reminders and last-minute announcements. New here? Enjoy a few events first, then pitch in if it feels like a good fit!
🔴 By participating in any New Beginnings Social Events, you and your guests RELEASE and DISCHARGE the organizers, hosts, and participants from all liability for injuries, illness, damages, death, issues relating to privacy or economic loss arising from activities, advice, or information provided. Participation is voluntary and entirely at your own risk. You are responsible for your safety, belongings, and transportation decisions. Choose carpool drivers carefully and consider leaving valuables at home.