Chinese New Year and Grand Parade 2020!

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on January 20, 2020

It is easy to think of this time of year as one during which the pace of life dramatically slows down. For many of us, winter means solitude, quiet, and contemplation. For many others, however, this tendency towards isolation is not nearly as delicious a concept. The longer nights and colder days of winter can, for those in this camp, feel like an unnecessary and unwelcome confinement. Thankfully, if you live in the Bay Area, then there is more than enough taking place throughout these winter months that can supply you with plenty of chances to get out of your home and engage in various acts of revelry.

The Chinese New Year, one of the biggest mid-winter celebrations, is just such an event. Beginning on January 25th and lasting about 15 days in total, it is more than just a single event and is better seen as a large-scale celebration of the new year that culminates in a large parade.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2020 is the Year of the Rat, an animal that might not strike many as one worthy of admiration, but one that nevertheless shares the world with us and perhaps holds a more valuable place than we are normally inclined to admit. For those interested in attending the massive parade on the 8th of February as it winds its way through the historic Chinatown district, be prepared to see plenty of rat-themed symbols and floats! But also be prepared to see large amounts of firecrackers, traditional drummers, paper lanterns strung high over the streets, lion dancers, and the famed Golden Dragon that stretches out to 28 feet.

Known as one of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations throughout the entire world, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade features well over 100 different entities all tromping up and down the streets of our city. From floats to dancers to other groups, the Grand Parade is a not-to-be-missed event that will draw out enormous crowds along the parade route.

Beginning at 5:15 in the evening, the parade will start its march at the corner of Market Street and 2nd Street. From there, it will wind and wander all around Chinatown before finally ending at the intersection of Jackson and Kearny. How long will this take? Close to 3 hours! That’s a heck-of-a-lot of parade for one day, but definitely something that will give you a marvelous burst of Chinese culture while also helping to keep the winter blues at bay.