Thousands of Bay Area residents celebrated the Year of the Snake at the San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday.
The Year of the Snake symbolizes rebirth and regeneration, and with the snake’s element being wood in 2025, it also represents growth and flexibility.
People born under this year, which include 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013, are described as courageous and resilient.
The annual parade has been named one of the top ten Parades in the world by International Festivals & Events Association and USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice award, and is the biggest parade celebrating the lunar new year outside of Asia.
The distance of the parade route is approximately 1.3 miles and the procession takes about 2.5 hours from start to finish.
Award-Winning Actress and Film Director Joan Chen was the Grand Marshal and newly-elected 46th Mayor of San Francisco Daniel Lurie was the honorary marshal.
Among other festivities, there was a two-day Community Street Fair on Grant Avenue and post-parade attendees were treated to a choreographed drone light show over the Embarcadero.
Dancers from Zhiping Shi Dance perform during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A man helps carry a giant snake during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Children dressed as green snakes dance and march during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A woman walks in the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Children jump and dance during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A woman dressed as a panda offers a rose to people in the crowd during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A long dragon is carried at the end of the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A dancer spins with ribbons during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A long dragon is carried at the end of the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) A girl from West America Tae Kwon Do, based in Mill Valley, jumps and kicks during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Firecrackers go off while people carry a dragon during the Chinese New Year Parade at Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
