In collaboration with State Assemblyman William Colton and City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, the Brooklyn Chinese Community Service Center organized the Snake Year New Year Grand Parade, braving the cold to kick off on February 2nd, the fifth day of the first lunar month, on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn.
According to the head of the Chinese Community Service Center, Luo Tianfu, the event received support from numerous officials. It aims to familiarize children with and pass on the Chinese New Year culture, as well as allowing other ethnic groups to participate and understand Chinese traditions. He emphasized that the Chinese lunar New Year has a history of four thousand years. For Chinese people, it is not only a moment to reunite with family, visit relatives, and receive red envelopes, but it also symbolizes family unity and cultural heritage. He hopes that this tradition can be passed down through generations, enabling the younger generation to deeply appreciate its significance.
Luo Tianfu introduced that this New Year Grand Parade organized by the Chinese Community Service Center is now in its seventh year, celebrating the Chinese New Year and uniting the community. The number of participants this year is expected to be similar to previous years, with around forty participating groups, more than the thirty-five groups last year.
The parade was staged on 18th Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets, with the parade teams assembling between 61st and 65th Streets. Dignitaries from various sectors delivered speeches during the event, followed by the official start of the parade, proceeding along 18th Avenue from 61st Street to 83rd Street.
Guests participating in the event included Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, State Senator John Liu, State Assemblyman William Colton and his chief of staff Helen Ho, New York State Assemblywoman Grace Lee, City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, NYPD’s 62nd Precinct Commander Eddie Lau, representatives from the New York City Fire Department, the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn (FIAO), the Brooklyn Bay Parkway Chinese Business Association, the Brooklyn Asian Real Estate Association, the New York Firearm and Shooting Association, and more. In addition, residents opposing the homeless shelter on 86th Street formed the “86th Street Neighborhood Team” to participate in the parade, showcasing the solidarity and strength of the community.