More than just a Parade

They say it takes a village, but in our case, it takes a town, Chinatown, a resilient 24 square blocks bustling with culture, food, and history; it takes a city, THE CITY by the Bay, a diverse 49 square miles consistently working for progress and inclusion; it takes the people, hundreds of dedicated individuals lending their time and talents to help organize and run this wonderful annual Chinese New Year celebration.

For the town, it all started in the late 1800s when the Chinese immigrants adapted an American tradition, the parade, as a way to educate the people of San Francisco about their culture. Over the course of 150 years, the celebration grew from a Chinatown parade to a signature event for The City. The parade transformed to become not just a symbol of Chinese culture nor a mere celebration of the Chinese New Year, but a legacy of perseverance through strife, pride in one’s identity, and a sacred tradition passed on generation to generation through families that have left their mark and continue to leave their mark on this event.

This year, we really wanted to honor the people who have helped make this all possible. Thank you to our families, friends, neighbors, and community members that have offered a helping hand and have become a part of our greater Chinese New Year family. Thank you for your passion and dedication to helping us uphold this meaningful event year after year. We could not do it without you. Thank you to our longtime partners at Southwest Airlines for making this video possible.

Thank you for being a part of this legacy.