Lunar New Year 2024

Find events and inspiration to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in San Francisco.

Merchant corridors for Lunar New Year shopping and dining

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Chinatown

The largest and oldest Chinatown outside of Asia.

Click to find more about Chinatown's small businesses.

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Excelsior

A hidden gem in the true San Francisco spirit.

Learn more at the Excelsior Action Group.

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Ocean Avenue

2 miles, 3 neighborhoods, over 100 small businesses.

Click for a business directory.

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Portola

“San Francisco’s Garden”

Find and support small businesses in Portola.

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Richmond

Be a part of Richmond's S.E.L.F. initiative to Shop Eat Local First.

Learn more about S.E.L.F.

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Sunset

From parks to beaches, shop and dine through “The Avenues.”

Shop between 19th and 26th Ave to find everything you need to ring in Lunar New Year. Find shops along Taraval here.

 

Celebrate Lunar New Year

Events coming up throughout San Francisco

Events coming up throughout San Francisco

Choy Sun Doe

Feb 10, Portsmouth Square, Chinatown

Choy Suns will grace Chinatown and pass out thousands of “Lai Sees” to eagerly waiting children. All the “Lai Sees” will contain a chocolate gold coin. Additionally, some will have either money or a gift certificate that can be redeemed for a toy. Hosted by the SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Sunset Lunar New Year Festival

Outer Sunset Farmer's Market and Mercantile, on 37th Ave at Pacheco St.

The Sunset Chinese Cultural District will be at the Outer Sunset Farmer’s Market and Mercantile from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate the Year of the Dragon! We’ve invited Chinese cultural performances, including Tai Chi, Gu Zheng, and the Happy Dance Troupe. Performances begin at 10 a.m., with Lion Dancing at 12 noon.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Feb 11 at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park

Participants of all ages can try your hand at traditional calligraphy, origami, and auspicious crafts for all ages! Dance along with festive performances – try your luck at games of fortune and win a prize. Get into the spirit and welcome the Year of the Dragon alongside the San Francisco Bay Area AAPI community! 

Drumbeats, Heartbeats 202

Feb 13 at the Main SF Public Library at 100 Larkin St

Celebrate Black History Month and the Lunar New Year with music and performances. Hosted by the San Francisco Public Library and co-presented by the SF Human Rights Commission and APA Heritage Foundation, this event aims to bring the Black and Asian communities together to jointly celebrate.

Celebration on Ocean Ave

Feb 17 at Unity Plaza, 1002 Ocean Ave

The event will feature family friendly activities, community resources, local vendors, and multicultural performances. A complimentary lunch will be provided by participating local businesses on Ocean Avenue to the first 400 guests.

Basketball Jamboree

Feb 17 at Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center, Chinatown

This basketball tournament was started by retired Francisco Middle School Principal Kenny Lee. Kenny wanted to create a basketball tournament that was reminiscent of his childhood days growing up in SF Chinatown. This event also showcases the adult alumni who lend their support and volunteer their time as referees and provide support to this next generation of our youth. Bring your friends and family to this exciting Lunar New Year Basketball Jamboree!

Chinese New Year Parade

Feb 24, throughout Downtown San Francisco

Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by International Festivals & Events Association, the Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the few remaining night illuminated Parades in North America and the biggest parade celebrating the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.

Community Street Fair

Feb 24-25, Chinatown

You will find over 120 booths and concessions making this a shopper’s paradise. The SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce has activities and entertainment for all ages. Enjoy Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming and much more at the entertainment stage on Pacific St. below Grant Ave. Make sure to get a family photo with the giant puppets, dragon and other memorable artifacts from the Parade!

YMCA Chinese New Year Run

Mar 3, Chinatown

The Chinatown YMCA, in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown, is holding its 46th annual “Chinese New Year Run” in 2024.

More ways to experience SF's neighborhoods

More ways to experience SF's neighborhoods

Our culturally distinct and beautiful neighborhoods are what make San Francisco! Experience them through these special "Perfect Days" or go off on your own to enjoy your own perfect experiences of this world-class city.

Have a "Perfect Day" to stock up on everything you need for Lunar New Year.

About Lunar New Year 

Lunar New Year is celebrated and observed by numerous cultures in Asia and marks the beginning of a calendar year with months based on moon cycles. Lunar New Year in 2024 falls on Saturday, February 10. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. 

 

Lunar New Year customs begin days before the widely known celebrations of the new year. Here are some of the common customs and practices that will help you kick off a prosperous and abundant new year: 

 

  • Clean your home to get rid of dirt and bad luck, with special attention to the kitchen to welcome the Kitchen God to protect the family. 

  • Have a family dinner on New Year’s Eve (January 21) with traditional foods such as fish (symbolizing surplus), chicken (symbolizing auspciousness), New Year cake (“nian gao”, symbolizing advancement), lettuce (symbolizing wealth generation), and dumplings (symbolizing prosperity pouring in from all sides).  

  • Red envelopes are usually given from married adults to unmarried children in the family, with red symbolizing luck and good fortune. 

  • Wear new clothes and say auspicious words to each other for a joyful start on New Year’s Day. 

Lunar New Year parade

In this video

Peak back at Lunar New Year 2022, celebrating the Year of the Tiger.

Transcript:

(Voice of Mayor London Breed)

As we celebrate the new year it's time for a new beginning, it's time to instill hope, happiness, pride in who we are as San Franciscans. It has been a tough two years but we should be proud of what we've done here in this city. The parade on February 19th will be back in San Francisco. Happy Year of the Tiger in Chinatown everyone.

View transcript

History of San Francisco's Lunar New Year celebrations

The City's Festival and Parade is the largest celebration of its kind in the world, attracting over three million spectators and television viewers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Asia.

About

This page is part of Shop Dine SF, an initiative of the Office of Small Business, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Its aim is to bring attention to the local businesses and neighborhood corridors.

Hosting a Lunar New Year event that spotlights small businesses? Email shopdinesf@sfgov.org to add it to this page.