On March 1, the Chicago Chinatown Community Foundation hosted its annual Lunar New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse and the 114th anniversary of Chicago’s Chinatown on a sunny and windy Sunday afternoon. Traditional lion and dragon dancing flowed through South Wentworth Avenue and West Cermak Road alongside marching bands, floats, dancers, and members of local schools and organizations. Thousands of visitors filled both sides of the street, excited for the performances of the parade, as confetti glided through the air during the day.
Parade performers lift the lion head to swap dancers as they head closer to the Chinatown Gateway on South Wentworth Avenue during the Lunar New Year parade on Sunday, March 1, 2026. 
The Lunar New Year parade begins as organizations march down South Wentworth Avenue at 12:43 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2026. 
Confetti flies in the air as the Lunar New Year parade continues down South Wentworth Avenue on Sunday, March 1, 2026. 
Parade members dressed in hanfu smile and wave at community members as they pass during the Lunar New Year parade Sunday, March 1, 2026, at South Wentworth Avenue. 
Lunar New Year parade members hand out gifts to the audience as they head down South Wentworth Avenue Sunday, March 1, 2026.
After the parade, lion dancers spread throughout the Chinatown area to bless local businesses with good fortune throughout the new year with many patrons from the day’s event visiting local establishments within the area.
A dragon and its operators quickly pass through South Wentworth Avenue on March 1, 2026 as the Lunar New Year parade comes close to its start. 
A cymbal player from the Hoysun High School Alumni Association stands amongst fellow alumni at South Wentworth Avenue and West 24th Street as members of the parade and attendees filter in prior to the start of the event on March 1, 2026. 
Audience members alongside South Wentworth Avenue affirm parade members as they pass by during the Lunar New Year parade Sunday, March 1, 2026. 
A fire horse puppet flies through the air by a member of the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Feb. 17 marked the year of the fire horse in Chinese zodiac. 
Sunday, March 1, 2026 outside the Chinatown Gateway on South Wentworth Avenue.
February 14 marked the official start of the Lunar New Year and Year of the Fire Horse, occurring for the first time in sixty years. According to the Chinese calendar, we’ve entered the year 4,724. The Lunar calendar rotates between five elements and 12 animal zodiac signs.
A lion dancer performs at the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown on South Wentworth Avenue on Sunday, March 1, 2026. 
Visitors of the Lunar New Year parade reach their hands out for gifts as a parade member reaches into her wagon for presents on West Cemark Road on Sunday, March 1, 2026. 
Attendees watch for upcoming performers on Sunday during the Lunar New Year parade on South Wentworth Avenue on March 1, 2026. 
By the Chinatown Gate on South Wentworth Avenue on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
James Hoeck is an independent photographer, journalist and artist. Hoeck is a freelance photojournalist with South Side Weekly.