CATS Chinese New Year

The Nevada City Chinese Lunar New Year Parade and Festival welcomes the Year of the Horse, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, 12:00-5:00 p.m. Chinese New Year is a cultural “gem” in rural communities, and CATS, along with the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, is proud to present this twelfth family-friendly celebration, honoring the early Chinese Gold Rush pioneers and railroad workers of the Sierra. Nevada County was once home to thousands of Chinese during the Gold Rush, and this event honors their legacy. We encourage revelers to check out the Firehouse Museum on Main Street, while you’re waiting for the parade to begin on Commercial Street at 12:00; it houses many early Chinese and Nisenan tribe artifacts. Commercial Street was the site of the old Chinese Quarter during the Gold Rush and the parade route is sentimental in that regard.

The community parade begins at 12:00 noon. It starts from the Robinson Plaza on Union Street (by the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce and the large Pelton Wheel), going up Commercial Street, making a left turn down Broad Street, making a right turn down Bridge Street (Bonanza Market), and then onto Spring Street where the celestial Lion dancing will take place immediately following the parade. Revelers may follow the Lions and Dragon from Commercial Street to Spring Street. After their outdoor performance, more entertainment and exhibits will take place inside the Miners Foundry, for an afternoon of fun for the whole family! Free admission.

CATS is pleased to honor Grand Marshals Susan Levitz and Pascale Fusshoeller, founders of YubaNet.com, who have been staunch supporters of CATS over the years; they have been a tremendous asset and a source of dependable and up-to-date news to the community.

This year’s mascot will be represented in the parade by horses and riders of the Nevada County Sheriff’s HEART (Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team).  Other units include the audience favorite — Chinese ceremonial Lion Dancers and a 72’ Chinese Dragon from Eastern Ways Martial Arts of Sacramento; second and third graders from Bell Hill Academy; “Mulan,” (aka Lily Emmolo); members of Grass Valley Aikikai, theatre groups; our spiritual friends from Falun Dafa; and Iwa Daiko drummers from Sacramento.  Food vendors are Kaliko’s Hawaiian Kitchen food truck; Gold Rush Cookies; and Sierra Savories Spices. The Foundry Bar will serve up Asian-inspired drinks. There will be Asian-themed arts and crafts and gifts for sale; a kid’s table; Chinese-style mahjong; a new children’s Chinese New Year book launch and sale by Allison Chan; horoscope face painting; tea ceremony demonstrations; Lisa Redfern and Rose Murphy promoting self-guided historic walking tours of the Grass Valley and Nevada City Chinatowns; and books by Sierra College Press. The State Parks will be represented, as well as the Nevada County Library, Nevada County Historical Society, and the Nevada County Landmarks Commission, and many more!

For entertainment at the Foundry, we have the very popular Grass Valley Hula – Ka Hale Hula O Pilialohaokalani O Hilo; Grass Valley Aikikai, demonstrating Aikido — referencing CATS’ upcoming production of Rashomon; and Lisa Redfern’s and Rose Murphy’s documentary film, “Chinese Family Stories – From Exclusion to Pillars of the Community.”  We are seeking sponsors and lots of volunteers. Contact Jeannie Wood at [email protected]

We thank the Miners Foundry, the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Nevada City, the Nevada City Arts Council, Yubanet, and Sonic Technology for their collaboration and support.