When the annual Chinese Parade zig-zags through the downtown Streets of San Francisco tomorrow (Saturday February 19th) locals and tourists alike will feast their eyes on a dazzling twenty-five festively decorated floats, captivating Lion Dances, inspiring marching bands, and upwards of 5,000 participants celebrating the year of the Rabbit with joyous abandon.
Viewers overseas - in China and neighboring Nations - will also have the golden opportunity to catch the exotic celebrations via streaming video over the web site at www.sina.com
The 1st parade was launched way back in 1858 by a rag-tag band of railroad workers bent on celebrating the Chinese New Year in their new homeland.
Today, the much-anticipated event is expected to attract over 1,000,000 strong who will swarm the streets to catch an up-close gander at the spectacle.
A picky few will also splurge - and cough up $30 a head - to hunker down in bleacher seats on Kearny Street at two locations (Sacramento & California Streets or at Pine & Bush respectively).
Mayor Ed Lee - the first Chinese American Mayor voted into office this past election - has been named the Grand Marshall this year.
According to Mr. Lee, the San Francisco Parade is the most-watched of its kind around the globe!
Thanks to technological innovations, jubiliant onlookers will be taken by surprise when firecrackers - approximately 600,000 in number - spontaneously erupt along the route (which starts at 2nd & Market Streets, and proceeds up Geary, along Powell, and down Post to end on Kearny at Columbia) by way of remote control.
The exciting cultural display is sure to be a crowd-please.
See 'ya there at my perch in the Financial District!
http://www.thetattler.biz
Parade Route
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