Olympian Eileen Gu heads up annual Chinese New Year parade in her native San Francisco
Thousands cheer on Olympian and hometown hero Eileen Gu, who was parade’s grand marshal this year
San Francisco rang in the Year of the Horse with its annual Chinese New Year parade on Saturday evening, with thousands of revellers cheering on hometown hero and Olympic champion Eileen Gu as its grand marshal.
The procession featured drums, dancing and floats celebrating the vibrancy of the Chinese-American community in the oldest celebration of its kind outside Asia and one of the largest.
Civic leaders and performers paraded from downtown to Chinatown through popping firecrackers. Children marched wearing inflatable horses while lion dancers and martial artists waved to the crowd.
The parade was first organised in the 1860s by Chinese immigrants who came to work during the California Gold Rush and wanted to share their culture through a “favourite American tradition,” the parade, according to the event website.
While the celebration always draws massive crowds, attendees were especially excited for Gu, who drew loud cheers.
Vanessa Chan of neighbouring South San Francisco said she represents “cultural infusion”.