Your Insider Guide to the Chinatown Festival & Parade
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a 150-foot dragon, lion dances, a mini-horse petting zoo, traditional Chinese eats and more at this all-day block party on Feb. 14.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Ring in the Year of the Horse at the 50th anniversary of the Chinatown Festival & Parade presented by American Savings Bank. The festivities include a parade, live entertainment across three stages, cultural performances, food vendors, local retail pop-ups and keiki bounce houses, offering a Valentine’s Day outing the whole family can enjoy.
Formerly called the Night in Chinatown Festival & Parade, the golden-year celebration is hosted by Chinatown 808, a volunteer group best known for organizing signature events that highlight O‘ahu’s unique Chinese culture and heritage as well as the historic Chinatown district.
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SEE ALSO: Ring in the Year of the Horse With Lion Dances, Firecrackers, Parades and More
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
When and Where
The Chinatown Festival & Parade will take place on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. along Beretania Street between Maunakea and ‘A‘ala Streets as well as in ‘A‘ala Park.
How Much It Costs
Admission is free. Most vendors will accept both cash and credit card payments.
Where to Park
Parking is available in the Chinatown Cultural Plaza lot (100 N. Beretania St., entrance on Maunakea St.) for $2 for the first hour and $2 for each additional 30 minutes before 6 p.m. The evening flat rate is $5 when you enter after 6 p.m. There are additional municipal lots nearby as well as street parking.
From noon to 10 p.m., Hawai‘i Bicycling League will provide free valet service if you ride your bike to the event. They will watch over your wheels during the festival, so you don’t need to bring a lock.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
What to Do
The festival brings new year traditions to life and fosters prosperity, good luck and fresh beginnings. Throughout the day and night, watch a packed schedule of live entertainment, including lion dance troupes, martial arts demonstrations, taiko drum performances, tai chi, kung fu and a K-pop act. At noon, tune in for a cultural talk about Lunar New Year to learn the traditional customs, symbolism behind lion and dragon dances and the significance of certain foods.
Families will enjoy free bounce houses, crafts and activities in the Keiki Fun Zone at ‘A‘ala Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Leaning into to Year of the Horse theme, there will also be a petting zoo with ponies and donkeys as well as an inflatable zodiac horse display to snap photos with.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Watch the highly anticipated parade that kicks off at 4:30 p.m. at the Hawai‘i State Capitol and continues along Hotel Street down to River Street. You can expect lion and dragon dance troupes, pageant queens and courts, cultural organizations, kung fu martial arts groups and local dignitaries, led by Grand Marshal Senator Karl Rhoads.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Schedule
9 a.m. Opening Lion Dance & Firecrackers in front of American Savings Bank
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Keiki Fun Zone at ‘A‘ala Park
11 a.m. Stage Entertainment Begins
4:30 p.m. Parade
6 p.m. Evening Ceremonies at ‘A‘ala Park Stage
9 p.m. Closing Lion Dances
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
What to Eat & Buy
Snack on popular new year’s treats such jin dui, symbolizing wealth and good fortune, and nian gao, representing growth and success, served by Chinatown vendors. There will also be modern cultural mash-ups and a wide variety of local food establishments, including Leeward Drive Inn, Pop Culture Artisan Pops and Waialua BBQ.
Shop for jade good luck charms, lucky red paper messages, Year of the Horse calendars and shirts. Local retailers will sell jewelry, clothing and crafts too. More than 40 vendors are confirmed. American Savings Bank customers will receive discounts at 10 select vendors when using their ASB debit card.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Food & Drink Vendors
- Aloha Scoops
- Apron Boys
- Belly Rub Kitchen
- Beta Beta Gamma Foundation
- Bing Bros Hawai‘i
- Blue Truck Teppanyaki
- Boom Boom Tea
- Corner Rolls
- Corn Onoz
- Da Hub Truck
- Drincup Café
- Fryer Em Up
- HanaPa‘a Market
- Hawaiian Cane Juice
- Hawaiian Honey Cones
- HottPotstickers
- Jay’s Sushi
- Khao and Papas
- Laowaiian Style Creations
- La Tour Bakehouse
- Leeward Drive Inn
- Legend Seafood Restaurant
- Milky Way Shave Ice
- Nabeya Maido
- Olay’s Thai Lao Express
- Pop Culture Artisan Pops
- Reecie B’s Onolicious Local Food
- Sama Sama
- Shaka Shaka Tea Express
- Smoked
- Str’Eats of Aloha
- Street Eats
- Sue Wah Wut
- Sugah Daddeh’s Kane Juice
- Sugar Mami
- Sweet Revenge
- Taco Kellz
- Ta-ma-da Sweets
- Teapresso Bar
- Waialua BBQ
- Wrap n Roll Lunchwagon
Craft & Retail Vendors
- Aloha Angel Collection
- Ben Franklin Crafts
- Flower Fair
- Grace Trading
- Happy Wahine
- Momo Terrascapes
- The OldTaku
- The Henna Shack
- The T-Shirt Outlet
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Tips
- Wear casual, comfortable clothing suitable for walking and enjoying the festivities. You can also dress up in festive attire, red or other bright colors to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
- Bring cash for vendors and to feed the Chinese lions for good luck, plus reusable bags for purchases.
- To secure a good parade viewing spot along Hotel Street, arrive early (at least by 4:10 p.m.).
- Find a table in the rest tent in ‘A‘ala Park to enjoy your food purchased from the vendors.
- Make sure to snap a selfie in front of the Year of the Horse display!
Chinatown Festival & Parade, Saturday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Beretania St. between Maunakea St. and ‘A‘ala St., chinatown808.com, @chinatown808hi
Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush
