On February 9th, 2019, North Chinatown conducted its annual Spring Festival Parade. Deputy Consul General Huang Liming, US Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Alderman Harry Osterman of the 48th Ward and others attended the parade.

In his speech, Deputy Consul General Huang Liming said that the Lunar New Year is an important traditional festival for China as well as many countries in Asia. The 48th Ward of Chicago’s City Council, having organized a parade on this important holiday, clearly has much respect for the culture of overseas Chinese and Asian immigrants alike. On the other end of the spectrum, the vast overseas Chinese community, here today enthusiastically celebrating our traditional festival, has shared with local community the remarkable essence of Chinese culture and made positive contribution to China-US cultural exchanges.

The Consulate General sent a float through the parade, bearing Chinese Fuwa (mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics) and adorable, fluffy pandas, stealing the eyes of the parade’s onlookers. Many even chased after the float to get the perfect shot with the large, festive figures.

Various organizations from North Chinatown actively participated in the New Year parade. Associations such as Hip Sing and others from the Vietnamese community also sent floats or phalanxes through the parade.