Portsmouth Square Draws Hundreds Despite Rain for Lunar New Year Celebrations

Hundreds of residents and visitors packed Portsmouth Square in San Francisco’s Chinatown on Feb. 17, 2026, to mark the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, pressing on through what one account described as "steady rain and chilly weather" and another called "heavy downpours." The downtown square, alternately referenced as Portsmouth Square Park in captions, staged traditional rituals and family-oriented activities despite the wet conditions.

Organizers and performers kept to a full program that included a traditional lion dance, dragon dancing, a Qipao walk and the distribution of auspicious red envelopes, while firecrackers and fireworks rang through the city during the kickoff. Bay City News photographer Tanay Gokhale captured crowds and a lion dancer posing for photos at Portsmouth Square Park on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026, images that accompanied coverage of the event.

Speeches from several city leaders punctuated the program, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, who urged momentum and cooperation as the city celebrates. "We have to harness this momentum," Lurie said, adding, "We can’t let it go too sideways, and so what we really need to do is continue to work together as a city."

Public safety officials outlined stepped-up measures as Chinatown and the rest of San Francisco head into weeks of Lunar New Year programming. San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto urged the community to celebrate safely and reminded attendees that law enforcement would be available to support them, saying, "Hopefully, there will be wealth, prosperity, and happiness for everyone in this new year!" SFPD Chief Derrick Lew said the department would increase staffing and patrols and noted the agency "has language capabilities to support more than 300 languages through the city’s language access line." Lew added, "You’ll see visibility patrols, ambassadors, and plain clothes officers, and all of these assets will be coordinated by our real-time investigation center."

Citywide logistics tied to the Portsmouth Square kickoff include a slate of follow-up events that culminate in the Chinese New Year Parade on March 7, 2026, and a community street fair on March 7 and March 8, 2026. To help access the parade, the city is offering free Muni rides on parade day, and parking at the Portsmouth Parking Garage will be free for the first hour until March 7, according to KRON/Yahoo reporting.

Among the attendees was a person identified only as Luu in KRON coverage, who framed the holiday as an economic lifeline for neighborhood businesses: "It supports small, family-owned businesses," Luu said, adding, "Restaurant workers will depend on this season. It is a celebration of our heritage." The reporting did not provide a first name or title for Luu.

Social media and local outlets encouraged continued participation as the calendar fills. An Instagram post fragment accompanying coverage read, "The next few weeks will be full of celebrations and gatherings, culminating in the March 7th Chinese New Year Parade. Come out to shop and", a partial call to action that underscores the event’s role in Chinatown’s cultural and economic calendar.