Members of the ToiShan Benevolent Association led the Dragon Parade at the start of the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28, beginning at Wilma Chan Park. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.
Fireworks and lion and dragon dancers brought in the Lunar New Year on Feb. 28 at the fourth annual Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade, a celebration organized by the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council (OCIC).
The event represents both a new year’s wish for success for Chinatown residents and businesses and continuing work to improve public safety and the environment.
The parade started at Wilma Chan Park near 8th and Alice Streets and continued to Lincoln Square Park on 10th St. Many community groups participated in the parade and also the booths set up in and next to the park.
The Lion dancers and Dragon dancers were members of the Toishan Benevolent Association.
The Festival stage presented dance, music,Taiko drumming, and martial arts demonstrations in the afternoon.
Speakers included Asian American community members and elected officials, including Mayor Barbara Lee, Congressional Representative Lateefah Simon, and Lt Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Alfred Liu, father of Olympic champion Alyssa Liu, also shared remarks.
This is the 4th year of the celebration after a pause of several years. The OCIC is a Community Benefit District (CBD) that assesses special fees to improve the community and assist with public safety.
More photos by Howard Dyckoff.Dragon Parade by members of the ToiShan Benevolent Association at Wilma Chan Park, Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices. Lion Dancers and percussionists preceded the Dragon Dancers in the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices. Master Shubai Zhu performed a Tai Chi demonstration on stage during the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade festival on Feb. 28. Photo by Howard DyckoffFlag bearers stood at the start of the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28 at Wilma Chan Park.Dragon dance lead “Uncle Le” held the dragon’s head at the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.The “Fire Horse” float appeared in the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28, celebrating the Year of the Horse. This event is a once in a 60-year occurrence and signifies energy and speedy change. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.A crowd gathered on 9th and Jackson St to await the start of the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.The OCIC 2026 board posed for a photo on stage at the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade festival on Feb. 28. Top: Tony Trinh, Jabari Jourdan-Ali, Josephine Hui, Hal Gin, Joe Ma, Stewart Chen, Alfred Lee, Douglas Tam, Sharon Lai, Kenneth Tang, Michael Yim, Sky Liang. Bottom: Jet Liu, Douglas Wong, Elaine Peng. Photo by Howard Dyckoff.Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council members Albert Lee, Arthur Liu (father of Alyssa Liu), Jabari Jourdan-Ali, and Dong Shu carried a banner in the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28. Photo by Howard Dyckoff.Kadence and Emory Yim hosted the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade festival on Feb. 28. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.Angela Wu joined the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28, dressed as a traditional Royal. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.Arthur Liu, Mayor Barbara Lee, and Dr. Stewart Chen atop a float during the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Feb. 28. Congresswoman Lateefah Simon and Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas also pictured. Arthur Liu attended in place of his daughter, Olympian Alyssa Liu. Photo by Howard DyckoffThe East Bay chapter of the UN Association participated in the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade festival on Feb. 28, including board members Sandra Williams and Melinda Howard Herrarte. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.Oakland Taiko provided traditional drumming for the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade festival on Feb. 28. Photo: Howard Dyckoff/Oakland Voices.
Howard Dyckoff has lived in Oakland for over 40 years and has been involved with many community groups, including Oakland Digital and Oakland Local, Block by Block, the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA), and CBE. A Brooklyn, New York, transplant, and an Aerospace Engineering graduate of NY Polytechnic, Howard also attended Laney College, where he wrote for the Laney Tower newspaper and was elected editor. Howard also attended the Starr King School at the Theological Union in Berkeley.
He has served as the Berkeley Free Clinic’s Outreach Coordinator, and also worked as an information technology professional at Chevron, Sybase, and Wells Fargo. He worked in both the 2010 and 2020 Census. Howard has been a regular contributor to Oakland Local and online publications such as TechTarget and Linux Gazette and currently writes for Oakland Voices. He currently does event photography and portraiture around the Bay Area.
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