Lunar New Year at the Zoo
Feb. 17, at 10 am-3 pm
Acrobats, lion and folk dancing, Chinese yo-yo tricks, and a Chinese-zodiac-animals scavenger hunt. People born in snake years (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013) are admitted free.
At San Francisco Zoo. Activities free with zoo admission.
Lunar New Year Celebration at Oakland Museum
Feb. 17, at 12-4:30 pmAn Asian multicultural new year celebration with lion dancing, mochi pounding, martial arts demos, ikebana on display, Gangnam-style Korean moves, Balinese dancers, mahjong and arts and crafts activities.
At the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland 94607. Free with regular museum admission.
Miss Chinatown USA Coronation Ball
Feb. 22, at 6 pm–midnight
The new Miss Chinatown USA and her court are crowned at this black-tie dinner/dance.
At San Francisco Hilton & Towers, 333 O'Farrell St. Tickets $120.
Lunar New Year in Redwood City
Feb. 23, at 11 am-4 pm
Acrobats, lion dances, music, martial arts, taiko drumming, kid-oriented arts and crafts, and food.
At Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway St., Redwood City. Free.
Chinatown Community Street Fair
Feb. 23, at 10 am-4:30 pm; Feb. 24, at 9 am-5 pm
Calligraphy, fortune-telling, roving giant puppets, shopping and a stage with acrobatics, folk dancing, lion dancing and other entertainment.
On Grant Ave., from California to Broadway; and on Pacific Ave., Washington and Jackson streets from Kearny to Stockton. Free.
Chinese Culture Center Spring Festival
Feb. 23 & 24, at 11 am-3 pm
Exhibits, crafts, New Year food samples, a bilingual riddle game, prizes, and performances of martial arts and folk and classical dances, all indoors. Paper-cutting artist Hou Yumei, who's designing a mural for the Chinatown Central Subway, will demonstrate her techniques.
At the Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., 3/F. Free.
Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt
Feb. 23, at 4:30-9 pm
As the Chinese New Year Parade proceeds, crack clues that test your wits and take you to obscure sites in Chinatown, North Beach and Telegraph Hill--and try to beat the clock and other teams to win prizes. You’re bound to learn bits of San Francisco history and culture.
Begins and ends at Justin Herman Plaza, Market St. at the Embarcadero, San Francisco. Tickets $12-50.
Chinese New Year Parade
The parade finale is the dance of the dynamic Golden Dragon. Knight Lights Photography
Feb. 23, at 5:15-8 pm
Decorated floats, lion dancers, marching bands and drill teams, stilt walkers, and the 270-foot-long Golden Dragon ("gum lung" in Cantonese). This is one of the few remaining night-time parades in the US and one of the top ten parades in the world, according to the International Festivals and Events Association.
Starts at Market and Second streets; ends at Kearny and Jackson. Free. Bleacher seats $30.
