Thousands of people filled the streets of San Francisco’s Downtown and Chinatown on Saturday for the annual Chinese New Year Parade. The free event draws spectators from across the Bay Area and Northern California. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has been putting on the parade since 1958, but similar celebrations in San Francisco date back to the 1800s. This year is the year of the fire horse, which is said to represent rapid change and intense energy.Horses could be seen in several ways throughout the parade, including decoratively on floats and as costumes for dancers. The parade also featured school groups and the beloved lion dancers. However, this year’s main attraction was Olympian Eileen Gu serving as Grand Marshall. Gu returns to her hometown of San Francisco after winning gold and two silvers in freestyle skiing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. While she represents China, her mom’s home country, on the Olympic stage, Gu grew up in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO —

Thousands of people filled the streets of San Francisco’s Downtown and Chinatown on Saturday for the annual Chinese New Year Parade. The free event draws spectators from across the Bay Area and Northern California.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has been putting on the parade since 1958, but similar celebrations in San Francisco date back to the 1800s.

This year is the year of the fire horse, which is said to represent rapid change and intense energy.

Horses could be seen in several ways throughout the parade, including decoratively on floats and as costumes for dancers. The parade also featured school groups and the beloved lion dancers.

However, this year’s main attraction was Olympian Eileen Gu serving as Grand Marshall.

chinese new year parade

Sarah McGrew, Hearst TV

Eileen Gu serves as Grand Marshall at San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade.

Gu returns to her hometown of San Francisco after winning gold and two silvers in freestyle skiing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. While she represents China, her mom’s home country, on the Olympic stage, Gu grew up in San Francisco.