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Chinatown celebrates the Year of the Monkey with spectacular Chinese New Year parade (PHOTO GALLERY)

chinatown chinese new year parade 2016
Volunteers perform the traditional lion dance, a regular feature at any major Chinese New Year celebration. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)

By Jenny G. Zhang

Hundreds of Chicagoans braved the cold and the snow to ring in the Year of the Monkey at the annual Chinese New Year parade in the heart of Chinatown on February 14.

Beginning at 1 p.m., 53 parade units – including eight marching bands and 18 colorful floats – followed the route along Wentworth Avenue between 24th Street and Cermak Road.

2016 marks the Chinese year 4714 and Chicago Chinatown’s 104th anniversary.

Photo at top: Volunteers perform the traditional lion dance, a regular feature at any major Chinese New Year celebration. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
The celebration opens with an explosive firecracker ignition that leaves the snow-dusted ground strewn with red residue. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Parade-goers, bundled up in warm layers, huddle behind police barriers along Wentworth Avenue and Cermak Road. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
The color yellow, which is associated with the earth, has been historically held in high esteem as the emperor’s color in Imperial China. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Teams of volunteers practice the traditional dragon dance, shifting long poles to manipulate the form of the dragon. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Dragons symbolize power, strength and good luck in Chinese culture. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Several Chinese community groups, including the Chinatown American Legion, the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and the Chicago Dragons Rugby Football Club, march in the parade. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Phoenix Military Academy students brave the heavy snowfall to represent their school. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Children and their parents wave from the float for 25th ward Ald. Danny Solis. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Other parade participants include representatives from Hyatt, ChinaUSANews.com, KMT Midwest Chapter and more. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
A volunteer embodies the playful mischievousness of Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King from the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
The Monkey King’s followers frolic on the float for the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Non-Chinese cultures are represented in the festivities, as well; here, the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band march while playing bagpipes. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Other brass includes Chicago-area high school marching bands. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
The 2016 Miss Friendship Ambassadors Jessica Kung, Kelly Yee Uchima and Victoria Ng (L-R) smile and wave on the float for the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
Wearing traditional clothes and headpieces, members of the Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce Chicago display Taiwanese pride in the parade. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)
chinatown chinese new year
A young girl waves from her seat atop the Mark Sheridan Math & Science Academy bus in the parade. (Jenny G. Zhang/MEDILL)

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