New York City celebrates Year of the Dragon with parade, festival in Chinatown

CHINATOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Happy Year of the Dragon from ABC 7 New York!

WABC joined the community festivities once again as a proud sponsor of the 26th Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival.

The event, organized by Better Chinatown USA, marked the culmination of celebrations that kicked off on Feb. 10, when the new year officially began.

ABC 7 New York streamed the Lunar New Year Parade live at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

You can re-watch the parade here:

The parade started along Mott Street and Canal Street, and made its way to Chatham Square. The procession then moved along East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, before turning onto Forsyth Street and walking towards Grand Street, ending the parade next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Festival booths were set up along Bayard Street between Mott Street and Mulberry Street.

ALSO READ: Who celebrates Lunar New Year and why?

What is Lunar New Year and what are the things you do for luck during the Spring Festival Year of the Rabbit? We explain.

Many Asian communities worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year. In Chinese, it is known as "Chunjie" or Spring Festival, while other names for the new year include Vietnamese Tet, Korean Seollal and Tibetan Losar.

The new year calendar cycles through 12 zodiac signs, including the dragon. In 2023, people celebrated the Year of the Rabbit.

The ABC 7 New York family wishes everyone who celebrates the Lunar New Year a healthy and prosperous 2024.

2023 WABC-TV LUNAR NEW YEAR SPECIAL: Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit | Eyewitness News Special