San Francisco rang in the Year of the Fire Horse with its annual Chinese New Year parade Saturday evening, with thousands of revelers cheering on hometown hero and Olympic champion Eileen Gu as its grand marshal.

The procession featured drums, dancing and floats celebrating the vibrancy of the Chinese American community in the oldest celebration of its kind outside Asia and one of the largest.

Civic leaders and performers paraded from downtown to Chinatown through popping firecrackers. Children marched wearing inflatable horses while lion dancers and martial artists waved to the crowd.

The parade was first organized in the 1860s by Chinese immigrants who came to work during the California Gold Rush and wanted to share their culture through a “favorite American tradition,” according to the event website.

While the celebration always draws massive crowds, attendees were especially excited for Gu, who drew loud cheers.

Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by International Festivals & Events Association and USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice award, the parade is one of the biggest celebrating the lunar new year outside of Asia.

Participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Youngsters take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Youngsters take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A large crowd watches the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse along Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A large crowd watches the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse along Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Olympic freestyle skiing gold medalist and San Francisco native Eileen Gu waves to the crowd as they celebrate the Year of the Horse during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Olympic freestyle skiing gold medalist and San Francisco native Eileen Gu waves to the crowd as they celebrate the Year of the Horse during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A group of kids with inflatable horses take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A group of kids with inflatable horses take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Participants march along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Participants march along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A color guard leads the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A color guard leads the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Espectators watch the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse along Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Espectators watch the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse along Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A marching band takes part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A marching band takes part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A colorful float honors the Year of the Horse during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A colorful float honors the Year of the Horse during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie greets attendees along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie greets attendees along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Firecrackers light up Market Street as participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Firecrackers light up Market Street as participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A San Francisco Fire Department lieutenant carries a young girl on his shoulders as they wave to the crowd along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A San Francisco Fire Department lieutenant carries a young girl on his shoulders as they wave to the crowd along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A colorful float honors the Year of the Horse during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A colorful float honors the Year of the Horse during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Participants march along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Participants march along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
A group of kids take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A group of kids take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Participants perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Participants march along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Participants march along Market Street during the Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse, in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Youngsters take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Youngsters take part in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Horse in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)