Chinese New Year revelry continues worldwide

Chinese New Year in Mexico City, Manila and Buenos Aires? Not the usual suspects, but the fanfare prevailed for celebrations around the world during the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Rat – that began Feb. 7.

But in some places, it’s not too late to get in on the fun. Here are some events to see so you don’t miss out:

San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The parade features a golden dragon more than 200 feet long carried by 100 people, as well as marching bands, martial arts groups, stilt walkers and lion dancers. General viewing is free; bleacher seats cost $30. http:/ www.chineseparade.com/ “> www.chineseparade.com/ to find out more about the parade and the route it follows through the city.

Chinatown Community Street Fair in San Francisco: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. This fair features lantern and kite making, calligraphy, folk dances and more. There’s even some acrobats and lion dancing going on during the day in the city’s Chinatown. Click here for more information.

Chinese New Year’s Art Exhibit in Vancouver, Canada: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Feb. 26. This exhibit at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden features a collection of Chinese paintings that celebrate the traditions of the new year. Click here for information.

Spring Lantern Festival in Hong Kong: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, also three carnivals Thursday through Saturday. The Hong Kong Tourism Board describes this as a kind of Chinese Valentine’s Day where flower markets and homes are filled with colorful traditional lanterns. Click here for the details.