Cal Poly Mustang Band to perform in San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
Event will be broadcast live on ABC 7 and streamed on Hulu
– The Cal Poly Mustang Marching Band will participate for the 11th time in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, March 7, in San Francisco.
The parade, named by the International Festivals and Events Association as one of the top 10 parades in the world, will begin at 6 p.m.
The Mustang Band first performed along the 1.7-mile parade route in 2014 and was among 15 marching bands that participated that year. The band has received first place in the adult marching bands category multiple times, most recently in 2024.
More than 220 students make up the Mustang Band, representing academic disciplines across the campus and nearly all six of the university’s colleges. The band performs at nearly 50 campus events each year, including athletic games and university functions.
Before the parade, beginning at 3 p.m., the band will continue its tradition of performing pep and postgame selections in front of the Ferry Building on The City’s Embarcadero. The Ferry Building serves as a gateway to San Francisco and is visited annually by millions of people.
The Chinese New Year Parade began in the 1860s as a way for the Chinese community to educate and share its culture with the broader community. At the time, no similar event existed in China. The parade and festival have since grown into the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia.
This year’s parade will celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse and will include floats, dragon dancers, and other entries. The event will be broadcast live on ABC 7 and streamed on Hulu. Viewers can search for the 2026 Chinese New Year Parade.
