Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year's Parade

Recognized one of the world's most spectacular parades, the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest event of its kind outside of Asia. Since 1958, the parade has developed under the direction of the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce, gradually transforming into the massive celebration it is today.

Over 100 different parade groups and organizations will participate in this parade commemorating the Year of the Dragon. A San Francisco tradition that has history dating back to just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain thousands of people who come to experience the splendor in person on the street and the hundreds of thousands who tune in to watch it on television.

The parade will begin at 5:15 p.m. at Market and Second streets and will proceed down Geary and Post streets before ending on Kearny Street at Columbus Avenue. Nowhere in the world will you see more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions and exploding strings of firecrackers. One of the featured attractions will be the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court.

A crowd favorite is the spectacular 201-foot-long Golden Dragon ("Gum Lung" in Chinese) that requires a a team of over 100 men and women from the venerable martial arts group White Crane to make its way through the streets of San Francisco.

This year's Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses. If you can join the hundreds of thousands who gather to watch from the streets, you can always tune in to watch the live parade broadcast on television on KTVU Fox 2 hosted by Julie Haener and Ben Fong-Torres at 6 p.m. or watch a livestream at KTVU.com. For more parade information, you can visit the official website.

Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year's Parade
Saturday, February 11, 5:15 p.m.
San Francisco's Chinatown