SF Chinatown celebrates lunar new year with festivities and firecrackers

San Francisco Chinatown celebrated the Lunar New Year on Wednesday night with firecrackers and festivities.

The beat of the drums accompanying the lion dancers on Grant Avenue signals the start of the new year. 

"I want to come out and soak up the atmosphere," said Vincent Lui of Sunnyvale, who found the celebrations exciting and energetic.

KTVU reporter Amber Lee was a guest speaker at the celebration.

She spoke about the Lunar New Year being the most important holiday in Chinese culture.

The lighting of firecrackers was part of the festivities, symbolizing the chasing away the bad and bringing in the good.

Nancy Law of Chinatown History and Cultural Association organized the celebration on Grant Avenue.

She said the event and its festivities set the tone for the new year.

"Today is the first day of the year," Law said. "When you have a good fresh start,  it's going to bring you good luck for the whole year."

Dancers in traditional chinese clothing performed on the street.

For many children, this New Year's Day is a school holiday.

Parents said it's an opportunity for them to teach their children about Chinese culture.

Angie Chien of Sunnyvale attended the festivities with her 6-year-old daughter.

"I want her to have that same kind of excitement that we had when we were young," Chien said. "And then to celebrate with the family to understand the importance of family."

The vibrant colors and the character of people dressed up as "choi sun" or money gods, were a popular attraction. 

It was a day to capture moments as many people took photos and videos of the celebration on their cell phones.

"I like how the community is and the culture, like lion dancing, the food. I really enjoy that," said Phoenix Gudiel of Sunnyvale.  

Roast pork, food that's often a part of Chinese celebrations, was served to attendees.

The event attracted people from all over the Bay Area.

"I took the whole week off so I could get all the cleaning done before Chinese New Year. I came down here because I heard there was a celebration for Chinese
New Year," said Christina Szeto of Novato.  

She enjoyed the festivities with her family.

At nearby Portsmouth Square, Mayor Daniel Lurie addressed the crowd that gathered for a celebration,"What a great turnout, I am fired up."

The mayor and others lit 10,000 firecrackers.

A new year brings new beginnings.

"We want to reset what Chinatown should look like-vibrant. Tourism is back," said Judy Lee of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.  

The celebrations will continue in the coming weeks.  People will visit family and friends to pay their respects.

Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU,  Instagram @AmberKTVU  or Twitter @AmberKTVU

Chinese New YearSan Francisco