Thousands Celebrate Year of the Horse at San Francisco Flower Market Fair

Annual Chinatown event features cultural performances, lion dances, and more to ring in the Lunar New Year.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Thousands of people gathered in San Francisco's Chinatown on Saturday for the annual Flower Market Fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse. The event featured traditional Chinese cultural performances, lion dances by the Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association, and opportunities for families to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies, and decorations to welcome the new year.

Why it matters

The Flower Market Fair is a longstanding tradition in San Francisco's historic Chinatown, which is the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest outside of Asia. The event allows the community to come together and honor their Chinese heritage through cultural performances, dance, and the purchase of auspicious new year's items.

The details

The Flower Market Fair featured special performances by various cultural groups to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association, founded in 1971 by the Leung brothers, also took the stage to showcase the ancient art of lion dancing. Karina Kwok, a second-generation Chinese American and member of the association's first all-female lion dance team, spoke about the discipline and tradition involved in lion dancing and her pride in representing her culture.

  • The Flower Market Fair took place on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Horse, was on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • The annual Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The players

Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association

A cultural organization founded in 1971 by the Leung brothers that is committed to coaching and carrying forward the traditions of traditional Chinese Kung Fu and Lion Dance.

Karina Kwok

A second-generation Chinese American born and raised in San Francisco, Kwok is a member of the first-ever all-female lion dance team to compete nationally and has dedicated four years to the Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association.

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What they’re saying

“With all the discipline that is needed, there's a Cantonese saying which refers to one minute on stage is equal to 10 years of practice off stage.”

— Karina Kwok, Member, Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association (CBS News)

“This is exactly why I love lion dancing because you can see all the reactions of the little kids and the elderly when you play with them, and this is exactly why I love what I do.”

— Karina Kwok, Member, Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association (CBS News)

What’s next

The annual Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, which will serve as the grand finale to end the Lunar New Year celebrations.

The takeaway

The Flower Market Fair in San Francisco's historic Chinatown continues to be an important annual tradition that allows the community to come together and honor their Chinese heritage through cultural performances, dance, and the purchase of auspicious new year's items, demonstrating the enduring strength of the neighborhood's cultural identity.