Play: Heading for the big Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade? Here’s an insider’s guide.
The Year of the Dog is upon us.
San Francisco will mark the occasion by hosting a Chinese New Year Festival and Parade that reigns as the largest such celebration outside Asia. It’s also one of the few illuminated nighttime parades in the world.
So you’ve got to be there, right?
If you haven’t attended before, checking this one off your bucket list will require a little advance work. The parade draws about a million spectators — and there aren’t enough Uber and Lyft drivers to ferry everyone to Chinatown.
Here’s a guide to the festivities, including some great insider tips:
PARADE ROUTE >> The parade, which is sponsored by Southwest Airlines, steps off at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 24 at Second and Market streets and heads west, turning onto Geary Street. The route goes through the heart of Union Square, turning right on Powell Street, then makes a quick right on Post Street to loop back. The final turn, a left on Kearny Street, takes the parade down a long stretch into Chinatown. Total time: About 2 1/2 hours.
GOOD VANTAGE POINTS >> “The best place to watch the parade is probably going to be at Union Square, but everybody knows that,” parade public relations coordinator William Gee says, “so try to be there as early as possible.” (Hmm, maybe a day of shopping before the parade? Macy’s opens
at 10 a.m. Saturdays, as do most other nearby stores.)
His other suggestion: Act quickly to reserve one of the 2,800 bleacher seats located on either Post or Kearny. Besides a good view from the tiered seating, “You get a hilarious emcee describing the parade units all night long,” he says. Tickets: www.chineseparade.com.
GETTING THERE >> Your best bet is public transportation, whether that be Caltrain from the Peninsula or BART from the East Bay. The parade website lists those options, plus nearby parking garages (some have discounted parade rates). Keep in mind: If you are driving in, do so early to avoid street closures and be prepared to stay late, Gee says.
THE FORECAST >> Doesn’t matter. Rain or shine, the parade will go on. Dress appropriately.
COOL CEREMONY >> On Friday, the official day of Lunar New Year, a brand-new Golden Dragon will be unveiled at a Portsmouth Square ceremony. At 288 feet, this dragon is 20 feet longer than the previous one. “We’ll be doing an eyedotting ceremony to make it ‘come alive,’ ” Gee says. Tell the kids to keep their distance.