Sam Spade's San Francisco

New Year's Flower Market Fair
Saturday, January 21, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, January 22, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Flowering quince, gladiolas, orchids and blooms and produce of all kinds are for sale in a street fair along with traditional Chinese dance, music, art, and cultural displays. Saturday, on Grant Avenue, from Broadway to Clay Street. Sunday, on Pacific Avenue, from Kearny to Stockton. Free.

Chinese New Year Carnival
January 27 - February 2, daily, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Walter U. Lum Place, Washington & Clay Streets.






Chinese Community Street Fair
Saturday, February 11, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Chinese cultural arts such as kite and lantern making, fine arts demonstrations, folk dance and puppet shows. Traditional and modern entertainment perform on the main stage throughout both days. Saturday, on Grant Avenue, from California to Broadway, and Sunday, on Pacific Avenue from Kearny to Stockton. Free.






The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. This year's theme is Year of the Dog and highlights include elaborately decorated floats, school marching bands, martial arts group, stilt walkers, lion dancers, Chinese acrobatics, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and the Golden Dragon ("Gum Lung"). The Golden Dragon is over 201 feet long, made with layers of silk, gauze and velvet which cover a bamboo frame. It's always featured at the end of the parade as the grand finale and will be accompanied by over 600,000 firecrackers. The parade starts at Second and Market streets and ends at Kearny and Jackson streets. Click here for map. Free, but bleacher seats are $30 (plus s/h charge on total order), children under 2 are free. No refunds. Call or for tickets.