Ready for the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco

Second graders Keira Chew and Charlotte Shanks said they are excited to participate in the parade this year. After watching her friends participate last year, Shanks said she couldn’t wait to be a part of it. 

“I’m kind of scared because I’ve never done it but I really wanted to do it this year,” Shanks said. “I’m pretty nervous.”

Chew said she’s not phased by performing in front of a large audience and cameras, but did note that operating the fan can be a little difficult sometimes. 

“When you open the fan, it’s pretty hard because sometimes when the wind comes, it hits yourself,” Chew said. 

Still, both of the students said they are proud to be participating in something that celebrates their cultural heritage and they’re particularly excited to learn the drums next year.

“It’s like gratitude for being in it and everybody who does it, and I’m kind of proud that everybody knows everything,” Chew said. “I’m excited that I’m going to be in a parade that almost everyone in the world is watching.”

Chew’s mother, Leslie, is one of the parent volunteers helping coordinate the parade this year, and said she can see how much the children enjoy being a part of it. 

“A lot of it is the thrill of being in a parade,” Leslie Chew said. “But, I do feel like the school does a really good job at promoting culture, so I think the kids understand it is a celebration of how culturally we celebrate the Lunar New Year.” 

Attending College Park Elementary, a magnet school with a Mandarin Immersion program, students “don’t really know anything else” other than proudly celebrating Chinese cultural events, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Lantern Festival, Leslie Chew said. 

Dora Mok, a parent also helping coordinate the parade, has had three children participate over the years and said her eldest son reminisces about the experience fondly. Her young son, Kyle Wong, grew up watching his older sister on the TV, and couldn’t wait to join this year as a first grader.

“I think it’s very rewarding, you can see they’re very happy and making a really good memory,” Mok said. “This is one of the things they’re going to remember from elementary school.”

Noel Milburn, a fourth and fifth grade teacher, composes the music and Julia Walsh, a second grade teacher, creates the choreography. This year’s music and choreography is inspired by the Peking Opera’s 13 claps, weaving in the lucky number 13 throughout the performance. 

Some of the kids don’t have music experience, so Milburn has to quickly go over quarter notes, rests and tempo with the student, but he is always impressed with how quickly the students get the hang of it. Walsh teaches the kids about showmanship as well, making sure they smile big for the cameras.

“I write something new for them every year and they figure it out every year,” Milburn said. “I never worry about that.” 

A big snake worn by three fifth graders will also weave around the back of the group, and four students are wearing puppet snakes, both new additions to this year’s parade to celebrate the Year of the Snake. 

On Saturday, participants will be getting dressed and their hair done at 2:30 p.m. and then make their way to San Francisco to march almost 2 miles beginning at 5 p.m. from Second and Market streets. 

Marching bands, kung fu groups and other schools throughout the Bay Area will also be in the parade, led by Grand Marshall Joan Chen, an actress and producer. 

None of the rain this last week of rehearsals has dampened the students’ excitement to participate, Mok said, and some students even hope it will rain a little this weekend.

“They say the rain is more fun, but I’m hoping it won’t rain,” Mok said jokingly. 

“It’s one of the only times it’s OK to be stomping through the rain and performing in the rain and no one is yelling at you, so they love it,” Leslie Chew added.