Monday, February 10, 2025
By Charlotte Meyer-Schoenherr
The streets of Chinatown came alive as thousands gathered to celebrate the 2025 Annual Chinese Lunar New Year Parade, ringing in the Year of the Snake with dazzling performances, colorful floats and a breathtaking firecracker display.
Hosted by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Washington, D.C. (CCBA) in partnership with the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA), the parade showcased a rich tapestry of culture and tradition that brought together people from all walks of life.
Crowds lined H Street excited to witness the parade’s signature attractions, elaborate lion and dragon dances, traditional Chinese drummers and beautifully costumed performers walking through the streets. The air buzzed with excitement as vibrant paper lanterns and red banners symbolizing good fortune adorned storefronts and lampposts.
The grand finale featured an electrifying firecracker show sending a chorus of pops and crackles through the streets, believed to drive away bad luck and welcome prosperity for the new year.
The Year of the Snake symbolizes wisdom, transformation, and resilience, qualities that seem fitting right now.
For those who missed it, there’s always next year—when Chinatown will once again light up in celebration, proving that tradition, culture, and community are meant to be shared by all.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Photos from the parade are by Charlotte Meyer-Schoenherr