Chinese New Year Parade Draws Thousands to City

As many as many as one million could line the streets of San Francisco tonight

San Francisco is always busy on a Saturday night, but no Saturday night is busier than the night of the Chinese New Year Parade.

Thanks to a rain-free forecast, hundreds of thousands of people made their way to the streets of San Francisco to celebrate the year of the snake.  

Parade attendance is dependent on the weather, so Saturday night's good weather could mean up to one million people lined  the streets beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Crowd estimates will be available Sunday. 

Artists, magicians and float designers have spent the past two months preparing for tonight. 

Two dozen floats adorned some 400 pounds of gold glitter.

Float master Dave Thomas says the goal was for people to see the floats design from 50 feet away. 

Because this is the year of the snake, many floats are reptile themed. The parade route begins at 2nd and Market Streets in San Francisco.

It travelec down Geary Boulevard and Post Street before ending on Kearny Street at Columbus Avenue.

The parade is a city tradition that dates back more than 150 years and is the largest event of its kind outside Asia.

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