Your Insider Guide to the Chinatown Festival & Parade
Watch lion dances, eat jai, play in the keiki bounce zone and more at this all-day block party celebrating Chinese New Year on Jan. 25.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Chinatown Festival & Parade presented by American Savings Bank on Saturday, Jan. 25. The festivities include a parade, live entertainment across three stages, an appearance by a 150-foot dragon, food vendors, local retail pop-ups and keiki bounce houses.
This year’s festival focuses on welcoming the Year of the Snake, which officially starts on Wednesday, Jan. 29. You’ll experience traditional activities, demonstrations and foods to help usher in good luck and prosperity for the new year.
Formerly called the Night in Chinatown Festival & Parade, the 49th annual 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.
Click to the info you want to explore:
SEE ALSO: Ring in the Year of the Snake With Lion Dances, Firecrackers, Parades and More
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
When and Where
The Chinatown Festival & Parade will take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, 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 $1 for the first hour and $1 for each additional 30 minutes, before 6 p.m. The evening rate is $1 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour. There are additional municipal lots nearby as well as street parking.
American Savings Bank Visa® Debit Card holders get access to exclusive parking at the American Savings Bank Campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
From 1 p.m. 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
Throughout the day and night, watch a packed schedule of live entertainment, including lion dance troupes, martial arts demonstrations, taiko drum performances, hula hālau, tai chi clubs and a K-pop act. At 1 p.m., 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 6 p.m. Local nonprofits Kids Hurt Too Hawai‘i and the Kukui Center will offer hands-on coloring and rock painting. Stop by the American Savings Bank, Hawai‘i Literacy and Trust for Public Land booths for more activities and giveaways.
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.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Schedule
9 a.m. Opening Lion Dance
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Keiki Fun Zone at ‘A‘ala Park
11 a.m. Live Entertainment Begins
4:30 p.m. Parade
6 p.m. Evening Ceremonies
9 p.m. Closing Lion Dances
Note: Times are subject to change.
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
What to Eat & Buy
Snack on popular new year’s dishes such as jai, jin dui and nian gao served by Chinatown vendors, including Legend Seafood Restaurant. There will also be modern cultural mash-ups, such as Philly cheese steak-stuffed spring rolls, as well as a wide variety of local food establishments, including Kapa Hale, KC Waffle Dogs and Sage Creamery.
Shop for jade good luck charms, lucky red paper messages, Year of the Snake calendars and shirts. Keiki will love the lion and dragon puppets so they can perform their own dances. Local retailers will sell jewelry, clothing and crafts too. More than 60 vendors are confirmed.
Food & Drink Vendors
- Battery Bill’s Solar Powered Shaved Ice
- Belly Rub Kitchen
- Bing Bros
- Blue Truck Teppanyaki
- Cafe Julia Hawai‘i
- Chick & Brisket
- Chillex Pops
- Corn Onoz Hawai‘i
- Da Hub Truck
- Da Ultimate Grindz Hawai‘i
- Donnie’s Barbeque Smokehouse
- HanaPa‘a Market
- Hawaiian Cane Juice
- Hawaiian Honey Cones
- Honolulu Rose Cake Shop
- HottPotstickers
- Jay’s Sushi
- Khao and Papas
- Kapa Hale
- KC Waffle Dogs
- LaoWaiian Style Creations
- Legend Seafood Restaurant
- Local Poke Bowl
- Nabeya Maido
- Nicki’s Sweet Treats
- Olay’s Thai Lao Express
- Pop Culture Artisan Pops
- ReecieB’s Onolicious Local Food & Olomana Bros
- Roselani Ice Cream
- Sage Creamery
- Sama Sama
- Shaka Shaka Tea Fruit Plantation
- Smoked.
- Str’Eats Of Aloha
- Street Eats
- Sugah Daddeh’s Kane Juice
- Sugar Mami
- TA⋅MA⋅DA⋅ SWEETS
- Teapresso Bar
- Thai Lao Restaurant
- The Corner Rolls
- Waialua BBQ
- Wrap and Roll Lunchwagon
- Yomie’s Rice & Yogurt Drinks
Craft & Retail Vendors
- Ben Franklin Crafts
- Diamond Heart Foundation
- Falun Dafa
- Flower Fair
- Fortune Telling
- Grace Trading
- Hannah Jo
- Happy Wahine
- HomeStreet Bank
- Honolulu Chinese Jaycees
- JM Boutique
- Stay Golden HI Jewelry
- T-Shirt Outlet
- Tag Aloha Co.
- The OldTaku
- Yeung’s Arts & Crafts
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 quiet, shady spot 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 Snake display!
Chinatown Festival & Parade, Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Beretania St. between Maunakea St. and ‘A‘ala St., chinatown808.com, @chinatown808hi
