The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade announced Thursday morning its new mascot for this year’s event.
Maverick joined ABC7’s 7@7 for his big reveal, where we got a rundown of what we can expect from the event and where you might see him around town.
According to parade officials, Maverick is “a bold descendant of Ma Sheng, the Horse God, the ancient protector of horses, donkeys, and mules in imperial northern China.” They say that for thousands of years, Ma Sheng stood as a guardian of strength and loyalty.
MORE: Grand marshal Eileen Gu shares message ahead of SF Chinese New Year Parade
Officials say 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, which is a rare alignment that occurs only once every 60 years. They say Fire Horses are said to be “energetic, charismatic, and fiercely ambitious, born to lead, eager to act, and fueled by passion. They are trailblazers with big hearts and bold dreams, lighting the way wherever they go.”
ABC7 News is your official home for the 2026 Chinese New Year Parade. You can watch it on Saturday, March 7, wherever you watch ABC7, including ABC News Live and Hulu.
If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live