The 35th Annual Stockton Chinese New Year celebration began just after 10am this morning on West Weber Street in Downtown Stockton as the multi-cultural parade of participants showed their excitement for the Year of the Snake 4711.
Judy Hong, named by the Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton as citizen of the year, led the parade as Grand Marshall at the weekend event.
Several youth from local high schools also participated in the 45 minute parade on the partly cloudy morning. The Franklin High School honor guard and JROTC marched in line plus the Cesar Chavez High School Titan Band strode to their own performance of “Moves like Jagger.”
The parade route ran parallel to the Port of Stockton and turned onto North El Dorado Street before entertaining audiences along East Oak Street then headed toward the final course on Center Road with the festival site at the Stockton Civic Auditorium.
Also making an appearance at the parade were public safety officials from the City of Stockton Police and Fire Departments and the San Joaquin County Sheriff.
In addition to the public safety groups, several elected official banners were displayed during the procession including signs from Congressman Jerry McNerney, California State Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman, and City of Stockton Councilmember Dyane Burgos.
Also celebrating the Year of the Snake were uniformed students, drum and cymbal musicians and dancing dragons from local martial arts companies: Tibon’s Goju Ryu Fighting Arts, Eastern Ways Martial Arts, and the Concord Kung Fu Academy.
The Stockton Bukkyo Taiko also provided an encore drum performance for audiences following the parade's conclusion.
Stockton Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
March 3rd from 10am-5:30pm, FREE admission
The Stockton Civic Auditorium is located at 525 North Center Street in Stockton, Calif.
More information is available at: http://www.stocktoncnyc.org/.
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