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San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade is a nighttime spectacle of lion dancers, marching bands, floats, firecrackers and a giant dragon that winds through downtown in the dark. The organizers, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, call it the biggest parade celebrating the lunar new year outside of Asia. It is one of the few illuminated night parades left in North America.
The 2027 parade is on Saturday, February 20, 2027, stepping off at 5:15 p.m. from Second and Market Streets, according to the official parade site. Lunar New Year itself falls on February 6, 2027. The organizers call the new year the Year of the Ram, the same zodiac sign many calendars name the Goat or Sheep. On November 2, 2026, the parade date and the 2027 street fair dates were posted. For smaller celebrations in and around Palo Alto, see our Lunar New Year guide.
What the parade is
The organizers say the International Festivals and Events Association named it one of the top ten parades in the world. It features dancers, dragons, traditional musicians, floats and student groups, along with community organizations and sponsors. The 2026 parade was broadcast live on ABC7 and KTSF, so friends and family who stay home can watch too.
Stay for the end if you can. The organizers said the 2025 parade closed its night with a fireworks display. They also estimated that about 3 million people joined that celebration in person or through the broadcast.
2027 dates for the parade and fairs
The parade sits inside a few weeks of Chinatown events. The Chamber's 2027 announcement lists these dates:
| Event | 2027 date | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Flower Market Fair | Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday |
| Lunar New Year's Day | Saturday, February 6 | Family celebrations |
| Chinese New Year Parade | Saturday, February 20 | Starts 5:15 p.m. |
| Community Street Fair | Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21 | 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday |
The Flower Market Fair, a week before New Year's Day, fills Chinatown streets with booths, many of them selling flowers and plants for the holiday. The Community Street Fair runs on parade weekend with booths on Grant Avenue and on Washington, Jackson and Pacific. Combining the Saturday street fair with the evening parade makes a full day.
The route and where to watch
The parade starts at Second and Market Streets, travels around Union Square and ends at Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue. The organizers put the route at about 1.3 miles and say the parade lasts about two and a half hours. You can stand anywhere along the route behind the barricades for free. It gets more crowded closer to Chinatown.
- Market Street and the start. More room and an early look at each group as it steps off.
- Union Square. Good sightlines around the square and plenty of places to eat nearby.
- Kearny Street. The closest viewing to Chinatown and the densest crowds near the finish.
Portable restrooms are placed along the route, usually near the bleachers. The parade goes ahead rain or shine.
Bleacher seats
If you want a guaranteed seat, buy a bleacher ticket. The organizers sell them only online through Eventeny, linked from their ticket page. They also warn about scammers. Sales are final. The site did not show 2027 prices when we checked, so look before you commit. The sections are:
| Section | Location |
|---|---|
| A | Kearny Street between Washington and Jackson (A1 is covered by a canopy) |
| B | Kearny Street between California and Sacramento |
| C | Post Street between Grant Avenue and Kearny Street |
| E | Geary Street between Stockton and Powell, at Union Square (E3 includes a gift bag) |
Check in at your section by 4 p.m. with the QR code ticket. A receipt alone will not get you a seat. Accessible seats cost the same as standard seats in each section. Free accessible viewing areas are also set aside along the barricades.
Getting there from Palo Alto
Caltrain and Muni
Take the train. Driving downtown on parade day means street closures from about 3 p.m. and expensive garages. Ride Caltrain to 4th and King, about 39 minutes on an express. Palo Alto to San Francisco is a three-zone fare ($9.00 from January 1, 2027). From the station, the T Third Muni Metro runs north under Stockton Street to Union Square and Chinatown, or you can walk about a mile to Second and Market. Muni costs $2.85 with Clipper. Our Clipper guide explains how to pay.
Getting home
With a 5:15 p.m. start and a parade of about two and a half hours, the last groups reach the Chinatown end well after 7:30 p.m. The crowds leave at once. Check the Saturday Caltrain timetable for the last southbound trains before you go. If you are at the Union Square end, walking back to 4th and King takes about 25 minutes.
Good to know
- Streets begin closing around 3 p.m. Plan to be in place well before 5:15.
- Not allowed: weapons, explosives and drones. Keep cushions, coolers, pets, selfie sticks and tripods out of the bleachers.
- Firecrackers are loud. Bring ear protection for children.
- February evenings are cold. Dress warmly and bring rain gear.
- Watch your bag in dense crowds near Kearny Street.
With kids
Children love the lion dances and the dragon, but a two and a half hour parade after dark is a lot for small ones. Union Square or Market Street spots are easier to leave early. A bleacher seat helps young children see over the crowd. Children 2 and under can sit on a parent's lap without a ticket. Bring snacks, a blanket to sit on at the curb and ear protection for the firecrackers. For a daytime option, the Saturday street fair in Chinatown is calmer.
Where to eat
Chinatown restaurants are packed on parade night, so book a table or eat early in the afternoon. A few places we confirmed open in November 2026:
- Z and Y Restaurant at 655 Jackson Street serves Sichuan dishes and has been open since 2008.
- China Live has a restaurant and bars near the north end of the route.
- Mister Jiu's at 28 Waverly Place serves modern Chinese cooking with a California take. It is closed Sundays and Mondays, so book ahead for parade Saturday.
Our Chinatown day trip guide covers bakeries and dim sum counters for snacks along the way. Back home, see our guide to Chinese food in Palo Alto for a New Year family dinner.
More Lunar New Year events
Stanford's own Lunar New Year celebrations and Palo Alto's library and community events fall in the same weeks. Our February guide lists them alongside Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day. If you plan to stay in the city after the parade, you can compare hotels near Union Square and walk back after the dragon passes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade in 2027?
The parade is on Saturday, February 20, 2027, starting at 5:15 p.m. at Second and Market Streets, according to the organizers. It celebrates the year that begins on February 6, 2027, which the organizers call the Year of the Ram. The 2026 parade was on March 7, 2026.
What is the Chinese New Year Parade route?
The parade starts at Second and Market Streets, loops around Union Square and ends at Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue at the edge of Chinatown and North Beach. The organizers put the route at about 1.3 miles. The parade lasts about two and a half hours.
Do you need tickets for the Chinese New Year Parade?
No. Watching from the sidewalk behind the barricades is free. Tickets are only needed for the bleacher sections, sold online through Eventeny from the parade's ticket page. Bleacher sales are final and children 2 and under can sit on a ticket holder's lap for free.
What time should I arrive for the parade?
The organizers ask bleacher ticket holders to check in at their section by 4 p.m. and say police begin closing streets around 3 p.m. For a free spot at the barricades, arrive by mid-afternoon. Crowds are heaviest near Chinatown, so the Union Square end usually has more room.
Is the parade cancelled if it rains?
No. The organizers say the parade goes ahead in the rain. Dress for a cold, possibly wet February evening that lasts two and a half hours. Bring a waterproof layer rather than an umbrella if you are in the bleachers.