Hundreds of thousands of people visit San Francisco’s Chinatown to experience the excitement of Lunar New Year, which is celebrated with dozens of ongoing events from January through March.
The historic Chinese New Year Parade, which this year falls on March 7th, is always the biggest event on the calendar. But festivities will kick off well before then with the popular Flower Market Fair this weekend on Feb. 14th and 15th, 2026.
The Flower Market Fair always takes place on the weekend before Lunar New Year Day (Feb. 17, 2026), giving visitors the chance to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies, supplies, and decorations with which to decorate their home.
Here’s what to know about attending Chinatown’s Flower Market Fair in 2026.
About the Flower Market Fair
The Flower Market Fair is a memorable way to begin Lunar New Year festivities in Chinatown, drawing thousands of people who come to purchase decorations and watch traditional performances.
Lunar New Year honors the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar, correlating with the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and the five elements. 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, which symbolizes energy, passion, and action.
In Chinese culture, Lunar New Year is often celebrated with fruits like oranges and tangerines, fresh flowers and plants, and candies and sweets.
The Flower Market Fair will have over 120 vendors selling all of the traditional supplies, including fresh fruits, bountiful flowers to symbolize growth and prosperity, and sweets like candied melon, coconut, and lotus seeds.
Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers can also watch delightful performances from traditional Chinese magicians, acrobats, folk dancers, and opera singers.
2026 Flower Market Fair dates, road closures, and more
📍 Location: Grant Ave between Clay and Broadway in Chinatown, San Francisco
🗓️ Dates: Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 14-15, 2026
🕜 Hours: 10am-6pm on Saturday and 9am-6pm on Sunday
🚧 Road closures: Chinatown will see numerous road closures around the Flower Market Fair, including Grant Ave, Pacific, Jackson, and Waverly. Check the SFMTA website for the full list of road closures here.
🚍 SFMTA reroute: SFMTA will reroute the 12 Folsom/Pacific Route around the area, missing the Pacific & Grant Ave stop, but adding temporary stops at Pacific Ave & Kearny and Pacific Ave & Stockton.
🌐 Website: ChineseParade.com
Chinatown’s Flower Market Fair is just one of many SF events celebrating Lunar New Year. Make sure you also save the date for the parade on March 7th, the Community Street Fair on March 7th and 8th, and ongoing events at the Asian Art Museum — more on that here.