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San Francisco rang in the Year of the Fire Horse with its annual Chinese New Year parade Saturday evening, with thousands of revelers cheering on hometown hero and Olympic champion Eileen Gu as its grand marshal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The parade was first organized in the 1860s by Chinese immigrants who came to work during the California Gold Rush and wanted to share their culture through a \u201cfavorite American tradition,\u201d the parade, according to the event website.<\/p>\n
While the celebration always draws massive crowds, attendees were especially excited for Gu, who drew loud cheers.<\/p>\n
Vanessa Chan of neighboring South San Francisco said she represents \u201ccultural infusion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s really wonderful. … She\u2019s funny, sunny, and she represents positivity,\u201d Chan said.<\/p>\n
Gu appeared partway through the parade in a red dress, sitting in a red convertible adorned with flowers. The color is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity for the Chinese holiday.<\/p>\n
Parade organizer Wiliam Gee said Gu was picked for the role by the middle of last year \u2014 before she competed in the 2025 Milan-Cortino Winter Games, where she won two silver medals and one gold, making her the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe year of the horse brings a lot of new life and energy,\u201d Gee said. \u201cShe definitely represents Chinese heritage and definitely is an icon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gu has come under scrutiny for her decision to represent China in competition, and Megan Chin, also of South San Francisco, said she felt the Olympian was attacked unfairly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you’re multicultural and you want to celebrate both heritages, it’s great to be happy for someone if they want to celebrate their other heritage as well,\u201d Chin said. \u201cI am proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Calvin Lui, who attended with his young son, said he loved Gu’s representation of the city where she was born and raised as well as her Chinese heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s her identity, both countries \u2014 so she gets the best of both worlds,\u201d Lui said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n