Washington, DC celebrates the Chinese New Year with a parade through Chinatown featuring traditional Chinese dragon dance, Kung Fu demonstrations, and live musical entertainment.
The parade is a colorful celebration of Chinese culture. A wide variety of cultural and community organizations participate in the Washington, DC Chinese New Year Parade. Many members of the Chinese community participate.
Chinese animal signs represent a cyclical concept of time, a 12-year cycle used to date years.
Attendance details
- Date and Time: Sunday, February 10, 2019, 2:00 – 4:00 pm The parade lasts 50 minutes, and this year there will be a pre-parade dance party on 7th and H streets at 1 pm
- Location: Chinatown – on H Street, NW, Washington, DC between 6th and 8th streets. The parade winds through the adjacent streets. A good place to watch the parade is along 7th St., away from the bigger crowds on 6th & H Streets. The closest tube station is Gallery Place / Chinatown. View a map
- Driving Directions: From I-395 North – Take the 12th St exit, take 12th St SW, turn right onto Constitution Ave NW / US-1, turn left onto 6th St NW / US-1 and get to Chinatown. There are some street parking available in the area, but this is a busy part of town in the heart of the city and spaces fill up quickly. As many streets will be closed for the parade, the best way to get to the area is to use public transportation.
Featured fashion shows
- The Arch of Friendship – A traditional Chinese gate, the Arch of Friendship prominently marks the Chinatown neighborhood on H and 7th streets. The Chinese New Year Parade focuses on this Washington DC landmark. The small historic neighborhood is home to roughly 20 Chinese and Asian restaurants and a handful of other small businesses.
- Chinese lions dancing along H Street: In China, the lion is considered the king of forests and other animals. Hence, it has long been used as a symbol of power and greatness. It is believed to offer protection against evil spirits.
- Marching Bands: Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual organization, marches with red lacquered drums and red streamers. The Ballou High School Marching Band, the Marching Knights, participates.
- Groups of children and young people: Children spin diabolos, a kind of Chinese yo-yo, as they march in the New Years parade. The Washington Chinese Youth Club includes members from throughout the metropolitan area.
- The Dragon Dance: Dragons are an important symbol in Chinese New Year traditions. The Dragon Dance is a favorite part of the annual celebration.
- Qilin: A Qilin is a mythical beast covered in fire that appears wise to bring serenity and prosperity to all.
- Firecrackers – The Chinese New Year Parade ends with a bang with the lighting of a giant firecracker. Firecrackers are used because the word for firecrackers implies that they will all explode or explode with good fortune.
