Chinese New Year in

San Francisco's Chinatown !

            San Francisco, California has the largest Chinatown (outside of China itself) in the world. Starting in the mid 1800’s the 5,000 year old traditions of the Lantern Festival, along with a fantastic parade, have been the focal point of the Chinese New Years celebration in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The tradition was begun in part as a way of introducing Chinese culture to the San Francisco community. You’ll see floats, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA, lanterns and, of course, dragons! Watch for the Golden Dragon which is controlled by over 100 men and women who are trained in the martial arts. Fireworks are a big part of the celebration as they are used to scare away the evil spirit Shan-Sau. This parade draws the most TV viewers of any in the world. This is the largest celebration of Chinese New Year outside of China.

Year of the Tiger
February 6 – February 28, 2010
Lunar Year 4708

February 6      
            Saturday 10:30 am
            Southwest Airlines Mini-Procession & Ribbon Cutting
            Grant Avenue from California to Pacific Avenue.
FREE

February 6 - 7
            Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm
            Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm
            Chinese New Year Flower Fair
            Grant Avenue from Clay to Broadway Pacific Avenue from Kearny to Stockton Jackson & Washington Streets from Kearny to Stockton
FREE

February 14
            Sunday
            Chinese New Year Day
            (No events scheduled on this day)

February 20
            Saturday 10am-4pm
            Chinese New Year Basketball Jamboree
            Chinese Recreation Center
            1199 Mason Street, SF

February 20
            Saturday 7:30 pm
            Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant                     $30, $40, $60
            Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
            3301 Lyon Street @ Bay, SF

Tickets available at:

            Chinese Chamber of Commerce
            730 Sacramento Street, SF (415) 982-3000

            United Commercial Bank
            900 Kearny Street, SF (415) 397-8988 (Mon-Sat)

            Ling Ling Chinese Dress
            63 Walter U. Lum Place, SF (415) 981-5608 (Mon-Sat)

February 21
            Sunday
            Chinese Chamber of Commerce/Chinatown Run 10K/5K Run/Walk
            YMCA Chinatown
            Contact: Lara Hitchcock at 415 576-9622

            7:00am Pre-Registration at Portsmouth Square
            8:00am Race begins at Grant and Sacramento

February 26
            Friday
            6:00pm No Host Cocktails
            7:00pm Dinner
            Dancing until midnight
            Harrah’s Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Coronation Ball
            San Francisco Hilton & Towers
            333 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco
            Tickets: 415 982-3000
$120

February 27
            Saturday 5:15pm-8:00pm
            Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade
            Market and Second Street to Kearny and Jackson
            Location of bleachers: Kearny Street (between Sacramento & California and between Pine &   Bush)
            415 986-1370 or 415 982-3071
Free/$30 for bleacher tickets

February 27 - 28
            Saturday 10:00am-4:30pm
            Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm
            Chinese New Year Community Street Fair
            Grant Avenue from California to Pacific
            Pacific Avenue from Kearny to Stockton
            Washington and Jackson Streets from Kearny to Stockton
Free

February 27 - 28
            Saturday/Sunday
            11:00am-4:00pm
            Chinese Culture Center Spring Festival
            750 Kearny Street, 3rd Floor (Hilton SF/Financial District)
            Information: 415 986-1822
Free