Lunar New Year Parade 2026: Honorary Family Parade Marshals

You and your guest will be honored guests of West Portal Elementary Chinese Performing Arts Program (WPCPAP), in one of the top ten parades in the world, the 2026 Lunar New Year Parade on March 7, 2026.

Your day will start in the afternoon at the school, where you will be dressed in costume. Around 3pm, all the groups will make their way to MUNI and catch the trains to the staging area downtown. Come parade time around 5:30pm, you will march with the school as we perform for thousands through the streets of downtown San Francisco.  Near Union Square, you will be greeted by the bright lights in the TV Zone, where rambunctious fans will be cheering for all parade participants. The evening will end around 8pm.

The WPCPAP director will work with you and your guest to coordinate the best placement for you in the parade. 

From Linda, 5th grade parent who won this opportunity in 2022 and 2023:

"Growing up in San Francisco, I have always been a spectator at the annual Chinese New Year Parade and thought it would be cool to be able to march in the parade. My daughter has participated in fan and ribbon dancing with West Portal's Chinese Performing Arts Program, and I really wanted to join her and experience marching in the parade together. Winning this auction item in both 2022 and 2023 not only gave me the opportunity to march in the parade, but it also allowed me to share unique memories with my daughter, seeing so many people smiling and cheering us on - it was such a great feeling! I also received text messages from friends and family telling me they saw me on TV! I highly recommend West Portal families to bid on this item to help fund West Portal's Chinese Performing Arts Program for many years to come!"