Chinatown is roaring to life with the return of its annual Chinese New Year Parade and Festival and various Lunar New Year events.
You can also celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with special restaurant and bar menus, arts activities, and at the 45th Lunar New Year Run. Happy New Year!
Festivities at Thrive City
Cuddle with rabbits at the petting zoo, enjoy lion dancing and drum performances, arts and crafts, and more at the family-friendly Lunar New Year celebration at Chase Center's Thrive City; 4pm to 7pm Saturday, January 21st.
// Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Year of the Rabbit Celebration at Oakland Museum of California
This 22nd annual Lunar New Year Celebration will bring folks together for performances—including a lucky lion dance, Filipino dance, and Malaysian drumming—family-friendly storytelling, and crafts such as paper lantern-making; noon to 4pm Saturday, January 29.
// OMCA, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland), museumca.org
Lunar New Year Celebration @ Outer Sunset Farmers Market
Make an event of your Sunday morning produce shopping with themed live performances and special deals to celebrate the Lunar Year; 9am to 2pm Sunday, January 29th.
// 37th Avenue between Ortega & Quintara (Outer Sunset), sunsetmercantilesf.com/osfmm
Chinese New Year Parade + SF Chinatown Events
Chinatown is roaring back to life this lunar new year with the return of the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, February 4th and the Chinatown Community Street Fair on the 4th and 5th. Considered one of the best night parades in the world, the procession will include fabulous floats, ferocious lions, and fulminating firecrackers. Tickets for bleacher seats ($41 to $70/person) are on sale now. In the weeks before the parade, keep an eye out for Rabbits on Parade, a public art project that has stationed life-sized rabbits around the city.
// 2nd St & Market to Kearny & Columbus, chineseparade.com
China Live's Chinese New Year Menu
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at China Live, where celebratory favorites—think Ningao New Year’s cake, Chinese rarebit, Shanghai lobster trap, whole live Dungeness crab, and peach-shaped longevity buns stuffed with chocolate ganache —are available for pick-up, delivery, and outdoor dining. During Chinese New Year, guests will receive complimentary gold coin chocolates which represent good luck and prosperity.
// 644 Broadway (Chinatown), chinalivesf.com
Lunar New Year X Black History Month
Oakland Asian Cultural Center is hosting a fun hybrid: On February 4th, the Celebration of Black Asian Solidarity will feature performances ranging from the Lily Flowers Chinese Folk Dance Group to African drumming, plus arts, literature, and a marketplace of Black and Asian vendors.
// 388 9th St, 2nd floor of Pacific Renaissance Plaza (Oakland), oacc.cc
Lucky Rabbit Art Show
Celebrate Lunar New Year at an art show featuring AAPI artists from the Bay Area and beyond; by appointment, January 21st through February 11th. // Helvella Art, 850 42nd Ave. (Oakland); RSVP at helvella.art/events/lucky-rabbit
Lunar New Year at SF Symphony
Welcome the Year of the Rabbit with a musical overture at the SF Symphony. The audio celebration will feature conductor Earl Lee and soprano Sumi Jo, and will include dance, traditional folk songs, and more; February 5th at 5pm, tickets are $35 to $110.
// 201 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center), sfsymphony.org
Family Fun Day + Storytelling
Take your little bunnies to the Asian Art Museum to this monthly event with a Lunar New Year theme. Activities will include Year of the Rabbit screen printing with Haight Street Art Center, storytelling, and more; 11am to 2:30pm Sunday, February 5th.
// Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St. (Civic Center), calendar.asianart.org
Trade Routes' Pop-up Bar
Have a toast to the Lunar New Year at another over-the-top themed pop-up with a 23-foot dragon, Chinese lanterns, and a special drinks menu; Wednesdays through Sundays, through February 12th.
// Trade Routes, 1750 Polk St. (Nob Hill), traderoutesbar.com
45th Annual Lunar New Year Run
Lace up those sneakers and hit the pavement for the 44th Annual Lunar New Year Run/Walk. This year of the tiger, the 5k/10k race will take place both virtually and in person. Complete your virtual run between March 5th and 26th, or join the live race in Chinatown on March 5th. Register in advance to participate.
// 855 Sacramento (Chinatown), ymcasf.org
