2025 CNY Parade LATE Application

Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, the San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade is one of the few remaining night illuminated Parades in North America and the biggest parade celebrating the lunar new year outside of Asia. Started in the 1860's by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Since 1958, the parade has been under the direction of the SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce. For more info about the parade, please go to: https://chineseparade.com/history/

IMPORTANT NOTE: You are submitting a LATE application and will be subjected to the $350 late fee. Late applications are due by December 31, 2024.   Over 100 units will participate in the Chinese New Year Parade. A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the Parade continues to delight and entertain the many hundreds of thousands of people who come to watch it on the street, tune in to watch it on television or on the streaming platform Hulu. The 2025 SF Chinese New Year Parade (Year of the Snake) will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

Nowhere in the world will you see a Lunar New Year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers, and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court. A crowd favorite is the spectacular 288' Golden Dragon ("Gum Lung"). It takes a team of over 180 men and women from the martial arts group, White Crane, to carry the Golden Dragon through the streets of San Francisco.   We are looking for colorful, fun, creative, and entertaining groups to be part of this exciting parade. Come join us by submitting your application no later than  Tuesday, December 31, 2024. 
This year's Chinese New Year Parade promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses, come rain or stars.

 

GUIDELINES

2025 SF Chinese New Year Festival and Parade - Year of the Snake

When: Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm PST
Where: San Francisco Downtown/Union Square/Chinatown

IMPORTANT NOTE: You are submitting a LATE application and will be subjected to the $350 late fee. Late applications are due by December 31, 2024.

 

NOTICE: All applicants must submit a $350 non-refundable application fee via ACH, debit/credit card or check.
Additional $350 late fee will be added for applications submitted after the due date on October 31st. (Total $700).

 

For Payments by ACH or Debit/Credit Card: 

Payment is made upon application submission. A processing fee will be collected.

 

For Payments by Check:

Please use code CNYPCHECK at checkout. Application will not be reviewed until payment is received. Payment must be received by the deadline of December 31st. 

 

Please make check payable to "SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce" and mail it to:

SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Re: 2025 Parade Application Fee

730 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94108

 

 

This is NOT an invitation to participate in the 2025 SF Chinese New Year Parade. This is an application to request participation and is designed to provide the Parade Office with information about your group’s proposed involvement in the Parade. All applications will be reviewed by our Parade Committee prior to being approved. Once approved, you will receive an invitation. Participation in the Parade is BY INVITATION ONLY.

 

Understand your category:

• Bands: Includes all school/college marching bands, drill teams, drum & bell or drum & bugle corps.
• Schools: All schools, public or private, from elementary to high school, alternative, charter or language immersion.
• Community Organizations: Nonprofits providing services that the community can benefit or enjoy.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERG): Employee-led networks supported by a company or organization.
• Specialty Groups: Groups that present another form of art or entertainment that does not fit in any of the other categories.
• Lion Dance Groups: Groups that provide dragon and/or lion dancing performances.

DO NOT submit an application if you fit into one of the categories below:

• Service Providers: Private, Government-owned entities or city departments, please contact Luciana Ng at luciana.ng@chineseparade.com or at (415) 889-8891
• Corporate Sponsors: For information about our sponsorship packages, please email request to sponsorship@chineseparade.com

Invitations or declines to applicants will be notified by mid January, 2025.

We highly recommend that you submit photos with your application to facilitate our reviewing process.

For information about festival events, contact the SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce at 415 982-3000. Inquiries about the Chinese New Year Parade may be directed to 415 889-8891. Visit our website at chineseparade.com for more information and updates.

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The Parade welcomes a variety of groups to join in the march in hopes to educate, enrich and entertain its audience with the colorful pageantry of Chinese culture and tradition. In order to retain the integrity of the Parade, participants are asked to tie their float or specialty unit to a Chinese cultural theme. We are honored and delighted to have representatives from all Asian cultures participating in this year’s festivities.

 

If you wish to be considered for participation in the 2025 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, you must submit an application online. Paper applications are no longer accepted. 

 

The deadline to submit a late application is by December 31, 2024. Letters of acceptance or denial will be sent in mid January. Only applicants who are accepted will be invited to participate in the parade.

 

For more information, please visit our website at chineseparade.com. You can also contact the Parade Office at (415) 889-8891 or at info@chineseparade.com.