The streets of San Francisco's Chinatown are set to reverberate with celebration next month when Queens-born actress and rising Hollywood star Awkwafina leads the vibrant Lunar New Year Parade as the Grand Marshal, SFist reports. Known for bringing her comedic chops to the silver screen and behind the scenes, Awkwafina, real name Nora Lum, gears up to usher in the Year of the Dragon on February 24.
The Lunar New Year festivities, which interestingly won't coincide with the actual New Year's day that falls on February 10, will be a belated treat for the Bay Area residents. However, it's not like they're short on other celebratory options, as the calendar is packed with cultural events, including the famed Flower Market Fair on February 3 and 4 and the handing out of red envelopes during the Choy Sun Doe celebration on the Lunar New Year's day itself, according to SFist. There's also the glitz of the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant & Coronation Ball, which precedes the parade on February 23.
"It's such an honor to serve as Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Lunar New Year Parade! I’m so excited to celebrate with our community,” Awkwafina told the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade's official website. The actress, whose recent work includes the Hulu film "Quiz Lady" and will be lending her voice to the fox character Zhen in "Kung Fu Panda 4," expressed enthusiasm for the role, noting her birth year aligns with the dragon symbolizing a time for growth and progress.
Awkwafina's roster of projects continues to expand, with her recent roles ranging from the family comedy "Quiz Lady," voicing quirky characters in animated flicks like "Migration" and the beloved "Kung Fu Panda" series, to teaming up with other A-list actors in the high-stakes action-comedy "Grand Death Lotto," which is yet to be released. And let's not forget, her voice will soon be wafting through movie theaters as Scuttle in Disney's live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid," as detailed by the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade's official website.
While awaiting the grand parade spectacle, San Franciscans can glimpse the city's festive mood through the zodiac statues – Year of the Dragon on Parade statues – which made their debut on January 28 and will remain a visual treat until March 2.
