Your guide to celebrating Lunar New Year in San Francisco
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Festivities will culminate with the annual Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco's Chinatown. Photo: Dong Xudong/Xinhua via Getty Images
The 2025 Lunar New Year parade isn't until Feb. 15, but that doesn't mean the festivities are on hold.
- Here's what you can look forward to as San Francisco ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake.
👯 Kick off celebrations at the Chinese New Year Day opening ceremony, where 100 students will perform synchronized dances for good luck.
- 11am-2pm Wednesday at Portsmouth Square. Free.
🦀 Check out Casa De Kei's Lunar New Year pop-up to try Dungeness crab chili wonton tostada, kanpachi chirashi and more.
- 5-9pm Wednesday at wine and sake bar Millay.
🥟 Indulge in W San Francisco's culinary pop-up bar with a special dim sum sampler and performances that range from Flying Angel's Chinese Dancers and DJ Works.
- 6-10pm Wednesday at W San Francisco. Free
🪩 Party it up at this 21-and-over event that will feature a night market, mahjong house, LED lion dancing, tattoo shop and more.
- 6pm Thursday at 55 Music Concourse Dr. Tickets are $25.
✊🏽 Learn about the history of Asian and African American solidarity at an event that honors both Lunar New Year and Black History Month. There will be local vendors, a children's zone and an art exhibition.
- 11am-4pm Saturday at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. Free.
🖌️ Stop by the San Francisco Botanical Garden's celebration to try your hand at traditional calligraphy, origami and other auspicious crafts. Performers include magician Greg Lum and the Jing Cai Taichi Team.
- 11am-2pm Sunday at the SF County Fair Building Auditorium. Free.
🦁 Join the Chinese Historical Society of America for a day of festivities, featuring arts and crafts, games, cultural demonstrations and more.
- 11am-4pm Sunday at 965 Clay St. Free.
😋 Enjoy a fusion of Chinese and Peruvian flavors to ring in the Year of the Snake.
- Thursday to Feb. 9 at La Mar San Francisco.
🎶 Watch the SF Symphony perform its 25th annual Lunar New Year concert with a program conducted by Francesco Lecce-Chong.
- 5pm on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Davies Symphony Hall. Tickets start at $75.
🍽️ Welcome chef Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese fame back to SF at his special collab event with Jew of Mister Jiu's chef Brandon.
- 6-9pm on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Moongate Lounge. Tickets start around $79.
🥁 Immerse yourself in one of Chinatown's most bustling times of year at the 2025 Community Street Fair, featuring over 120 vendors and performances ranging from opera to drumming.
- 10am-4:30pm Saturday, Feb. 15 and 9am-5pm Sunday, Feb. 16 at Grant Avenue between California and Broadway streets.
🐲 And finally... Take in the incredible floats, lion dance performances, firecrackers and more at the 2025 Chinese New Year Parade. Named one of the top 10 parades in the world by International Festivals & Events Association, it's not one to miss.
- This year's festivities will also feature a new highlight: a drone show at Pier 32.
- Starts at 5pm on Saturday, Feb. 15 from the corner of Market and 2nd streets. Free to attend; bleacher tickets are $45-75.