(And for some fun further reading, take a look at how Harry Potter\u2019s Draco Malfoy character<\/a> has somehow become a Year of the Horse meme mascot for 2026<\/a>.)<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Parade Grand Marshall will be San Francisco-born Eileen Gu<\/a>, an Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skier.<\/a>\u00a0The parade is always free, so you should expect large crowds.<\/p>\n Keep reading for what to know about the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade in March, including the parade route map and street closures that day.<\/p>\n For timely updates, you can follow the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade\u2019s official social media pages<\/a> and website.<\/a><\/p>\n The parade starts at 5:15 p.m. on March 7, which is a Saturday.<\/p>\n The route<\/a> begins at Second and Market streets, goes around Union Square and ends at Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue. The total route is around 1.3 miles long.<\/p>\n The parade is a free event<\/a>. However, if you want to sit on the bleachers, you\u2019ll need paid tickets to be assigned a specific section (but not a specific seat).<\/p>\n There are four bleacher sections, each on:<\/p>\n Tickets range from $45 to $75, and can be bought online<\/a> for email delivery. The more expensive options include a gift bag. Bleacher seating is free for children under two<\/a>, as long as they are sitting on the lap of a caregiver.<\/p>\n Organizers suggest that if you buy tickets, you\u2019ll need to check in and be seated early on March 7, close to 4 p.m., to be ready for the start of the parade.<\/p>\n All sections of the bleachers will have wheelchair seating, but you will need a ticket regardless.<\/p>\n If you need accessible spaces, you will also need a ticket. Portable restrooms will be available near the bleachers.<\/p>\n Chinese New Year Parade organizers strongly encourage public transportation<\/a>.<\/p>\n The SF Muni bus system has not yet released its 2026 guidance<\/a> on transportation, street closures and reroutes during the parade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Fireworks](\"https:\/\/cdn.kqed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/02\/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg\")
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What is the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade route?<\/h2>\n
Do I need tickets to the San Francisco Chinese New Year parade?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.kqed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/02\/240224-ChineseNYParade-60-BL_qut.jpg\")
How can I get to the San Francisco Chinese New Year parade? Are there street closures?<\/h2>\n