San Francisco Richmond District Wishes Community “Good Luck” for the Lunar New Year

By Staff Writers Ariel Duong & Aarav Vashisht

In light of the Lunar New Year, the San Francisco Richmond District held its inaugural celebratory Good Luck Parade, welcoming the Richmond community with ornate lanterns and lively booths, garnering attention from the Bay Area community for its decorations reminiscent of the Lunar New Year celebrations in Asia.

From 35th to 36th Avenue on January 18, booths and vendors lined the block for the Lunar Bazaar, selling arrays of products and trinkets, including keychains, paintings, and more for the public to explore. Visitors from blocks away were greeted with the sounds of celebration while immersed in vivid shades of red, with exuberant crowds of performers setting the event in motion. The Lunar New Year celebration featured motifs ranging from familial importance to good fortune and prosperity. Attendees were particularly intrigued by the cluster of child-friendly attractions, including arts and crafts booths for children, the Richmond Police Department’s Chipper the Squirrel Mascot, and the interactive San Francisco Firetruck exhibit. The display of traditional Chinese games, such as Mahjong, invited participants of all ages and ethnicities to play, promoting unity.

The Richmond Neighborhood Center invited visitors to watch the parade commence at 5:30 p.m. Cultural attractions included liturgical monk performances, lion and flag dances, and traditional drummers. Organizations such as Asian Family Support Care, Frank McCoppin Elementary School, and Self-Help for the Elderly appeared in the parade to support their local community establishments. The crowd erupted with applause and cheers, filling the evening air and amplifying the buoyant atmosphere.

Several attendees expressed their admiration for the event’s inclusivity and cultural presentation. “I feel so much nostalgia. I love watching Chinese dance and martial arts, like the performances by the Shaolin temple people — they were so good,” attendee Jane Yang said, reflecting on her sentimental connection to the Lunar New Year’s celebration. The occasion also allowed participants to reconnect with their heritage, building a sense of belonging and pride throughout the Richmond community. “When I was younger, I also did Chinese dance. Now, seeing young children doing it again is so heartwarming [because I get] to see the culture kept alive,” Yang said. 

Aiming to help the Richmond community convene and commemorate the traditions celebrated for the Lunar New Year, city officials worked to host their first Good Luck Parade and festivities to support local vendors and share their prosperity throughout the community. With resolute devotion to the community, the Richmond Neighborhood Center coordinated the event through the fall and winter to seamlessly execute the parade to the attendees’ satisfaction. “[Everyone] can get together and celebrate … our culture. We end up being able to not [only] celebrate our arts, performance, and music, [but] also get to support our merchants, Baba Theatre, [and] the restaurants. This is really what it’s about,” San Francisco District 1 Board of Supervisors Connie Chan said. Chan and her team planned the event’s vibrant performances and rich cultural exhibitions, enabling attendees to reconnect with their traditional roots and cherished culture, commemorating their shared cultural identity.  

After thankful remarks from the Richmond Neighborhood Center Team, the organizers proceeded with the commemorative awards given to participating parade organizations. This year, the Lunar New Year Good Luck Parade brought joy and community to the Richmond District, and will be a highly anticipated event for years to come. “Our seniors, our kids, our pets, they’re all very much enjoying this moment and having the ability to, even on a cold winter day, get together and celebrate,” Chan said.