Thousands attend Sunset’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration Parade

February 19, 2018 Jaime DeJesus

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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A Chinese New Year tradition continues in Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Chinese-American Association (BCAA) once again hosted its annual Chinese New Year Celebration Parade in Sunset Park on Sunday, February 18.

Celebrating the Year of the Dog, the celebration — which tens of thousands attended — featured performances by youngsters, traditional festivities, appearances by community leaders and elected officials, and more.

The festivities included welcoming remarks from officials such as Senator Chuck Schumer, Borough President Eric Adams and Assemblymember Peter Abbate.

The celebration officially began at 11 a.m. at Eighth Avenue and 50^th Street, featuring performances by local children and adults and cultural activities.

At 1 p.m., the head lion and VIP guests, followed by marching teams, led the parade along the Eighth Avenue commercial strip. At 2:30 p.m., the parade ended at 61^st Street. The lions danced in front of each store to bring good luck and fortune to the community.

The traditional firecracker display, a ritual that is meant to cleanse homes and businesses to usher in a year of good luck, also took place.

Other activities included a kung-fu demonstration.

Since 1988, the annual Chinese New Year Celebration Parade “has been bringing the richness of the Chinese culture to the borough of Brooklyn as well as promoting unity among neighborhoods,” said the BCAA in a release.

Attendees enjoyed sharing the fun with their loved ones.

“My daughter loved it,” said Seyda Funes. “We bought so many poppers, my daughter was handing them out to kids and wishing them a happy new year. One lady hugged me and thanked me. My daughter said, ‘It was a great experience. We got there early and were able to walk through the festival. As we got closer to the stage, the music got louder and people seemed happy. Being from a different culture, it was a great way to experience a new culture and its festivities.’”

“No one celebrates Lunar New Year like we do in Sunset Park,” Adams said. “The Brooklyn Chinese-American Association’s celebration was ‘on fire!’ We derive strength from the rich diversity of our borough, and this month’s collection of Lunar New Year programming is a testament to how important it is to keep heritage alive as we build One Brooklyn that is a rich tapestry of culture and community.”