San Francisco gears up for a bustling weekend with the NBA All-Star Game and Lunar New Year Parade coinciding in mid-February.
San Francisco: Get ready for a wild weekend! The NBA All-Star Game and the Chinese New Year Parade are both happening from February 14-16. It’s going to be a huge draw for tourists.
Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, which is great for local restaurants. But the rest of the weekend? Expect packed sidewalks and busy bars. It’s going to be a major tourism event for the city.
Chinatown and Mission Bay will be buzzing with visitors. And don’t be surprised if rideshare prices surge. Fireworks will light up the sky, making it a lively atmosphere. This could be the biggest tourism weekend since before the pandemic.
Remember when Fleet Week and other big events happened at the same time? We might see tens of thousands of extra tourists this weekend. With some All-Star events in Oakland, BART will likely be crowded too.
Last Saturday saw record ridership on BART, thanks to events like the Chinese New Year Parade. They reported over 123,000 trips, which is a big jump from previous weeks.
So, how many people are we really expecting? The Lunar New Year Parade website mentions over three million spectators, but that includes TV viewers. Last year’s All-Star festivities drew more than 190,000 fans.
We reached out to the SFPD and the Mayor’s office for their plans, but the Lunar New Year Parade folks are excited to welcome basketball fans. They’re coordinating with city officials to ensure everything runs smoothly.
The parade is set for Saturday night, February 15, while the All-Star Game is on Sunday. Both events promise a packed schedule of activities.
Friday kicks off with the NBA Rising Stars Tournament, followed by a concert series. Zedd is performing Friday night, and the Chainsmokers will play Sunday night. Saturday’s performer is still a mystery, but tickets are selling fast.
At the same time as the concert, the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant will be happening nearby. The Lunar New Year Parade starts at 5:15 PM on Saturday, overlapping with some All-Star events.
Street closures for the parade haven’t been announced yet, but they’re expected. And will Muni be free on parade night? We’ll have to wait and see.
On Sunday, there’s a Chinatown Street Fair and, of course, the NBA All-Star Game at 8 PM. This year’s game format is different, with four teams playing in a mini-tournament. It should be more exciting than in previous years.
Let’s hope everything goes smoothly. Last time the Warriors hosted the All-Star Game, it was a bit of a disaster. Fingers crossed for a fun and safe weekend!
