Giant puppets, a drumbeat you feel in your chest and a dragon waiting for a selfie: the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair fills Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Chinatown for two days. It happens the same weekend as the Chinese New Year Parade, so the whole neighborhood is in festival mode. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced yet.
What to expect
In 2026 it ran Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8. More than 120 booths offered shopping and food, and the stages featured Chinese folk dance, opera and drumming.
You could also pose for photos with giant puppets and dragons. The dragons, for the record, are very patient models.
Good to know
- Last held: Saturday, March 7, 10am to 4:30pm, and Sunday, March 8, 2026, 9am to 5pm (the 2025 fair ran February 15 and 16)
- Location: Chinatown, Grant Ave between California St and Broadway, San Francisco
- Organizer: San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade
- Transit in 2026: Muni service was free all day on parade Saturday (except cable cars), and Route 12 was rerouted around the fair
- Parking in 2026: Portsmouth Square Garage offered one free hour during the festival season
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair in 2027?
The 2027 dates have not been posted yet. The fair was last held March 7 and 8, 2026, and it’s held the same weekend as the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade.
Where is the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair held?
It runs along Grant Avenue between California Street and Broadway in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
What happens at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair?
You’ll find 120+ booths of shopping and food, live Chinese folk dance, opera and drumming, and photo ops with giant puppets and dragons.
Source: SFMTA: Chinese New Year Community Street Fair service alert, Downtown SF Partnership: Lunar New Year 2026 guide
How Do I Get to Chinatown, Grant Avenue?
Chinatown, Grant Avenue is at Grant Ave between California St and Broadway, San Francisco, CA. Transit: 2026: Muni service free (except cable cars) all day on parade Saturday; Route 12 rerouted around the fair. Parking: 2026: Portsmouth Square Garage offered one free hour during the festival season. Use the directions and parking links on this page to plan your trip from where you are.
How to Get Here
2026: Muni service free (except cable cars) all day on parade Saturday; Route 12 rerouted around the fair
Where to Park
2026: Portsmouth Square Garage offered one free hour during the festival season
Map
Chinatown, Grant Avenue, Grant Ave between California St and Broadway, San Francisco, CA