Tag Archives: floats

3. The Large, Extravagant Chinese New Year Fest & Parade Feb. 6–28

Picture 11Having the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, it should come as no surprise San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade is one of the top ten parades in the world. As one of the few remaining night-illuminated parades in the country, the Chinese New Year Parade continues to entertain hundreds of thousands of people all over the U.S. each year. Gorgeous floats, lion dancers, extravagant costumes, acrobatics, ferocious lions, and exploding firecrackers, this elaborate parade has got it all – not to mention the newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA and her court.

The fun doesn’t stop there. There’s three weeks full of events for the Chinese New Year ranging from a flower fair to a basketball jamboree to the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant. Don’t miss the live music and a chance to get your name written in ancient Chinese calligraphy by an artisan at the street fair.

3. Tournament of Roses: Rose Parade & Rose Bowl 1/1/10.

The Tournament of Roses is so big that it’s broken into two major events, with each having their own nPicture 17ickname. The Rose Bowl Parade is affectionately known as “America’s New Year’s Celebration” and the Rose Bowl Game as “The Grandaddy of Them All.” Celebrating the culmination of the college football season, the Tournament of Roses brings together the top of the Big Ten and Pacific-10 teams and is consistently the highest attended football game.
If you’re not a fan of football, but still want to celebrate, the Parade is an internationally televised event featuring universally loved floats, marching bands, and celebrities. So get up and smell the Roses!